Photos: Afghan returnees struggle amid economic and climate crises

Herat, Afghanistan – At the Islam Qala border, the relentless upwind carries stinging particulate that clings to tegument arsenic temperatures soar to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), transforming the crushed into a scorching furnace.

Families huddle successful constrictive strips of shade, children protecting their faces with scarves arsenic they await assistance.

For many, this harsh scenery represents their archetypal glimpse of location aft years successful exile.

Since September 2023, much than 4 cardinal Afghans person returned from Iran and Pakistan, astir 1.5 cardinal of them successful 2025 alone. Simultaneously, International Organization for Migration (IOM) information reveals astir 350,000 Afghans were displaced wrong the archetypal 4 months of the year, including interior displacement and cross-border migration.

This wide question stems chiefly from deteriorating economical conditions and escalating clime alteration impacts.

In Iran, Afghans were not simply impermanent workers; they were captious to the economy, filling indispensable roles successful construction, agriculture, and manufacturing. Their departure has created important gaps successful Iran’s workforce, portion those returning look profound uncertainty successful Afghanistan.

“Now I person thing – nary job, nary home, and nary 1 to crook to,” says Maryam, a widow with 2 children, who had lived successful Iran for six years.

Despite suffering from kidney problems, her top symptom comes from watching her 15-year-old son, Sadeq, hunt for enactment alternatively of attending school. He keeps his acquisition aspirations concealed to spare his parent further worry. For Maryam, this unspoken imagination weighs heavier than immoderate carnal ailment.

The World Bank’s 2025 Development Update indicates Afghanistan’s system remains precarious.

The monolithic influx of returnees has intensified unemployment pressures, with an estimated 1.7 cardinal further young radical expected to participate an already overwhelmed labour marketplace by 2030. Without important concern successful skills development, entrepreneurship, and occupation creation, galore whitethorn beryllium forced to migrate again.

Since 2024, IOM has provided skills grooming to astir 3,000 returnees, internally displaced people, and susceptible big assemblage members. The organisation has besides supported much than 2,600 businesses — 22 percent of which are owned by women — helping to make astir 12,000 jobs, including implicit 4,200 for women.

While these initiatives bring important stableness and dignity, they correspond lone a fraction of what is needed. With accrued funding, IOM tin supply greater stability, trim repetition migration risks, and assistance returnees rebuild dignified lives.

This photograph assemblage was provided by the International Organization for Migration.