The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The U.N. Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) says the return of millions of Afghans is placing growing pressure on urban, peri-urban and rural settlements across the country, increasing the need for investment in housing and community development.
In a new report titled "Settlements in Afghanistan: Lessons Learned for Advancing Durable Solutions and Reintegration," UN-Habitat examined Afghanistan's experience over more than a decade in allocating land and developing settlements for returnees and displaced populations.
According to the report, the findings draw on the agency's work before and after 2021, including the "Sustainable Human Settlements in Urban Areas to Support Reintegration in Afghanistan" project, which was funded by the European Union.
UN-Habitat said Afghanistan experienced the return of approximately 2.8 million people in 2025 alone and projected that nearly 2 million more could return to the country in 2026.
The agency warned that the growing number of returnees is increasing demand for sustainable settlements, adequate housing and expanded social infrastructure to support long-term reintegration.
The report is also based on assessments of existing settlements in eastern Afghanistan and evaluations conducted by the Taliban's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation in 2022. It said the findings are intended to help guide planning and investment decisions aimed at supporting the sustainable reintegration of returning Afghans.
Afghanistan has experienced one of the world's largest return and displacement crises in recent years, driven by conflict, economic hardship and large-scale returns from neighboring Iran and Pakistan. U.N. agencies have repeatedly warned that without sustained investment in housing, basic services and livelihoods, the growing number of returnees will place additional strain on already vulnerable communities and public infrastructure.
