Afghan children returning from Iran face uncertainty and rising humanitarian needs

This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

ISLAM QALA/AFGHANISTAN/GENEVA, 10 March 2026 – “The impact of escalating conflict in the Middle East is creating immediate risks for children across borders. Right now, in Afghanistan, families are arriving at the Islam Qala and other crossings coming from Iran, many distressed after an unexpected journey and uncertain about what lies ahead as they return to their homeland. For UNICEF, the central concern is simple: what this means for children.

“We are already seeing too many mothers arriving at reception centres with their children, looking exhausted, overwhelmed and in need of immediate support. If arrivals increase as expected, the risks facing children will grow as well.

“The pattern is not new and the cause is often the same. Violence and fear. In 2025 alone, nearly three million Afghans returned to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries, primarily from Iran and Pakistan, and around 60 per cent were families with children.

“Today, I heard directly from people arriving across the border, who described nearly impossible journeys, full of uncertainty about what lies ahead. Many are in urgent need of medical support and visibly lost, seeking some basic information about what to do next with their lives.

“I cannot stress this enough. Children require particular attention, especially those who are unaccompanied. Their best interests must be prioritized and appropriate support provided, including efforts to trace and reunify families where needed. Otherwise, they will be exposed to serious protection risks, including abduction and violence.

“At the peak of last year’s returns, UNICEF supported more than 8,000 unaccompanied and separated children from Iran and Pakistan.

“Together with UNHCR and humanitarian partners, we are working to ensure that essential services for children and families can be maintained and, if necessary, rapidly scaled up. This includes preparedness for nutrition screening, safe water, vaccination, primary health care and child protection services at border points, reception centres and in areas of return.

“But the challenge does not end at the border. Families returning through Islam Qala will move onwards to communities where basic services are already under pressure. Any significant increase in returns would place additional strain on health, nutrition, water and child protection services that children and families rely on.

“This comes at a time when Afghanistan is already facing multiple layered crises – with 11 million children in need of humanitarian support.  For families returning with very limited means, displacement and uncertainty can quickly increase the risk of malnutrition and ill health, particularly for young children and for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

“However, the geopolitical situation creates major disruption to supply chains. And this means that basic service delivery is hampered by delays - for example, malnourished children won’t receive life-saving therapeutic food on time.

“At the same time, the situation along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border is adding to existing humanitarian pressures. Nearly 164,000 people are internally displaced in the affected provinces, including 30,000 survivors of last year’s earthquakes who are displaced for a second time. Disruptions affecting border areas are placing further strain on already fragile systems and complicating the operating environment at a time of rising need.

“Early action will be essential to ensure that, should returns increase, children and families can access timely support and essential services.

“The Humanitarian Response Plan for Afghanistan is underfunded (HRP currently only 10% funded and HAC at 42%). For the immediate response, we call on all parters – private sector, donors and friends of children to support us with the urgent airlifting of critical nutrition, health, water sanitation and hygiene supplies for children and their families.

“Our message is simple: children must be protected and supported at every stage when they need us the most. Together with partners, UNICEF stands ready to support children and families and to scale up the response if needed.”