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Desperate Afghan refugees return to an unfamiliar home
The agency is calling for calm and cooperation to provide a dignified path forward for millions of displaced Afghans.
More than 1.6 million Afghans have returned from both neighbouring countries in 2024 alone, according to UNHCR – a figure that has already surpassed earlier forecasts for the entire year.
‘From Afghanistan – not of Afghanistan’
The scale and speed of these returns are placing enormous pressure on border provinces ill-equipped to absorb them, exacerbating poverty, insecurity and humanitarian need in a country still reeling from economic collapse and widespread human rights abuses.
Complicating the situation further is the fact that many returnees – especially women and children – are coming back to a country they barely know.
“They are from Afghanistan [but] not of Afghanistan – often born abroad with better education and different cultural norms. Their outlook is different from and often at odds with present day Afghanistan,” says Arafat Jamal, UNHCR Representative in the country.
Women and girls in particular face a jarring shift: from relative autonomy in host countries to a context where their rights are severely restricted by edicts from Taliban authorities.
Women’s rights in Afghanistan continue to face severe setbacks, with restrictions deepening across education, employment and public life
Disorientated and disorganised
He reported conditions that he had seen for himself recently in Islam Qala, a key border crossing with Iran.
Daily arrivals have surged to around 50,000 people, many of them disoriented and exhausted after arduous journeys. UN officials described scenes of desperation at reception centres.
“Many of these returnees have been abruptly uprooted and have undergone arduous, exhausting and degrading journeys – they arrive tired, disoriented, brutalised and often in despair, and they sprawl throughout a crowded centre in often 40°C (104°F) heat,” Mr. Jamal said.
While some returns are voluntary, he added that many are occurring under duress or without proper protections in place. Those returning include both officially registered refugees and people in “refugee-like” situations who may face serious risks upon arrival.
Funding crisis
The UN and humanitarian partners have mounted a broad-based response along the borders, providing food, water, health services, protection and onward transportation.
However, funding shortfalls are critically hampering operations. UNHCR’s response is just 28 per cent funded as of July, forcing aid agencies to ration supplies and make painful choices.
“We are living on borrowed funds,” Mr. Jamal said. “Daily, we are asking ourselves – should we give one blanket instead of four? One meal instead of three? These are heartbreaking, soul-destroying decisions.”
The situation is equally dire for other agencies: the wider, UN-led 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Afghanistan – which seeks $2.4 billion to assist nearly 17 million people across the country – is only 22 per cent funded.
Poverty and drought
Recent UN assessments have also warned of deteriorating conditions and deepening poverty within Afghanistan.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued alerts over worsening drought across much of the country, while the UN Development Programme (UNDP) reports that 70 per cent of Afghans already live at subsistence levels, as the collapse of public services and ongoing rights violations leaves millions in despair.
As returnees cross the border, often without notice or resources, local populations are being stretched to the limit.
Mr. Jamal noted that this “precarity layered upon poverty” risks fuelling frustration, competition over limited resources and new forms of social tension.
“Afghanistan may be welcoming, but it is wholly unprepared to receive this volume of returnees,” he said. “The communities who are taking people in are doing so with great generosity, but they are themselves in crisis.”
Global attention
The growing emergency comes just days after the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution expressing “deep concern” over deteriorating conditions facing Afghans.
The resolution, passed with 116 votes in favour and only two against, urged the Taliban to reverse repressive policies and called for renewed international cooperation to support Afghan civilians.
The resolution highlighted the need for “coherent approaches” that bridge humanitarian, development and political efforts. It also called on donor countries to maintain or increase support.
EUAM Iraq: new head of mission appointed
The Council today appointed Ralf Schröder as new head of mission for the European Union Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq). Source link
International Criminal Court: War crimes, systematic sexual violence ongoing in Darfur
Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan told ambassadors in the UN Security Council that the ICC has “reasonable grounds to believe” that both war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed in region, where a deepening conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has plunged the region into a humanitarian disaster.
Among the most disturbing patterns, she said, is the targeted use of sexual violence, including rape, abduction, and gender-based assaults – a campaign often directed at women and girls from specific ethnic communities.
‘An inescapable pattern’
“There is an inescapable pattern of offending, targeting gender and ethnicity through rape and sexual violence,” Ms. Khan said, stressing that such crimes must be translated into evidence for the Court and the world to hear.
She detailed ongoing efforts by the ICC’s Darfur Unified Team to document the atrocities, including through repeated field missions to refugee camps in Chad, the collection of over 7,000 items of evidence and enhanced cooperation with civil society and victims’ groups.
Ms. Khan also emphasized a renewed focus on gender crimes, supported by the Court’s dedicated gender unit, and called on all partners to work more closely to “ensure there is no gap in our efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.”
Deteriorating humanitarian crisis
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation worsens.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), aid convoys are being targeted, hospitals bombed, and food and water deliberately withheld.
In early June, five humanitarians were killed in an ambush in North Darfur, while airstrikes in West Kordofan killed over 40 civilians, including patients and healthcare staff.
Active shelling
In El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, active shelling and armed encirclement by RSF forces have effectively cut off civilians from lifesaving assistance. Reports of extortion and diversion of aid in surrounding areas have further compounded the crisis.
The outbreak of cholera is spreading across conflict zones, with Darfur now experiencing cross-border transmission into Chad and South Sudan.
Health officials warn that the ongoing rainy season could worsen the epidemic by contaminating already-scarce water sources.
Committed to justice
Alongside humanitarian challenges, the ICC also faces formidable obstacles.
Deputy Prosector Khan noted a series of challenges, including obstruction and hostility towards investigators on the ground, critical underfunding, limited cooperation from some States, and difficulties surrounding the arrest and transfer of individuals under ICC warrants.
However, despite the challenges, she affirmed the ICC’s commitment to justice.
She pointed to the pending verdict in the trial of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, as a milestone for accountability – and a warning to perpetrators who still believe themselves beyond the reach of international law.
“They should understand: we are working intensively to ensure that this trial is only the first of many,” she said.
Gazans dying in search of food, ‘starkest illustration’ of their desperation
“The fact that people are now dying every day trying to get food, I think is the starkest illustration of how desperate the situation is,” said Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director at the UN agency, briefing journalists on his fourth visit to the war-torn enclave.
Earlier this year, food security experts reported that starvation is spreading in Gaza. The entire population, some two million people, is acutely food insecure and half a million are on the brink.
“If anything, it’s much worse now,” said Mr. Skau, who was in Gaza City, Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis last week.
Children going hungry
Malnutrition is also surging. Some 90,000 children are in urgent need of treatment, according to UN child rights agency UNICEF.
Today, one in three people goes hungry for days. Mr. Skau said he met many families who told him there are days when their children do not eat at all.
“But the days when they are eating it’s often a hot soup they get from us with just a few lentils or a few pieces of pasta, so certainly not enough,” he said, adding that some mothers discourage their children from playing to conserve energy.
The top official also addressed the widespread displacement in Gaza. In the past he met families who had been forced to flee two or three times, but now “I meet families who have moved two or three times in the past 10 days,” and some who have been uprooted upwards of 20 times.
Trickle of aid
Meanwhile, outside of the recent 80-day aid blockade, humanitarian response “has never been more constrained.” The amount of assistance humanitarians are able to bring into Gaza is “just a fraction of what’s needed,” at a time when a kilo of wheat flour costs $25.
He added that the operating environment “is just impossible.” Active military operations are occurring in roughly 85 per cent of Gaza’s territory and teams “get stuck waiting for clearances and at checkpoints, often spending between 15 to 20 hours straight in their armoured vehicles trying to escort our convoys.”
Other obstacles include lack of fuel, spare parts for vehicles, and basic communications equipment.
Engagement with Israel
Mr. Skau said WFP have been actively engaging with the Israeli authorities over the past few weeks and “there were commitments” around issues such as volumes of aid, faster humanitarian movements, and not having the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) present when convoys are moving.
“Now, obviously, the proof is in the pudding,” he said. “We need now to see delivery and implementation on those commitments, and so far, we have not seen enough progress.”
He noted that WFP were allowed to deliver aid through the north on Friday for the first time in several days, which was “a key issue.”
“It’s not only about getting enough volumes, but it’s also to be able to get in through the north because in the north we are able to deliver in a more orderly way,” he said.
He told journalists that “there have been issues with armed elements interfering” in the region, which is unacceptable, but stressed the importance of being able to deliver there “because we think that is the way to also help bring down the levels of desperation and prices.”
Ceasefire now
Mr. Skau stated that the minor progress regarding commitments “is not going to be enough to turn the tide of hunger,” underlining the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza.
During the ceasefire earlier this year, WFP facilitated the entry of more than 8,000 trucks into the enclave, opened 25 bakeries and hundreds of soup kitchens, and delivered food packages to more than 1.5 million people.
The agency was also able to stock its warehouses, meaning operations could continue for roughly half of the 80-day blockade.
“We are ready to do that again,” said Mr. Skau. “We have enough food on the borders to deliver to the entire population for some two months. But obviously we need that ceasefire, and we need conditions within that ceasefire.”
Here, he stressed the need for a humanitarian protocol with a provision that allows for multiple routes and entry points into and inside Gaza – as well as a secure environment for delivery.
Later, Mr. Skau was asked about the talks with Israel.
“I sense the recognition that conditions need to improve,” he said. “It was also recognised that the UN has a key role to play,” he added.
“It was very clear in my engagement that they want the UN to continue to be the main track in delivery.
“And certainly should there be a ceasefire, the indications were that they would want us to be ready to scale up and do what we did last time when we on Day One were ready to bring 600 trucks into Gaza.”
Gazans dying in search of food, “ most austere illustration ” of their despair
“” The fact that people are dying now every day trying to get food, I think it is the most striking illustration of the desperation of the situation“Said Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the United Nations agency, briefing journalists during his fourth visit to the enclave torn by the war.
Earlier this year, food security experts said famine is spreading to Gaza. The whole population, some two million people, is of food tremor and half a million is at the edge of the edge.
“If anything, it’s much worse now,” said Skau, who was in Gaza City, Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis last week.
Children are hungry
Malnutrition is also skyrocketed. Some 90,000 children have an urgent need for treatment, according to the United Nations Child Rights Agency Unicef.
Today, one in three people hungry for days. Mr. Skau said he had met many families who told him that there were days when their children did not eat at all.
“But the days they eat, it’s often a hot soup that they get us with only a few lenses or a few pieces of pasta, so Certainly not enough“, He said, adding that some mothers discourage their children from playing to keep energy.
The senior official also discussed the generalized movement of Gaza. In the past, he met families who had been forced to flee two or three times, but Now, “I meet families who have moved two or three times in the last 10 days”, and some who have been uprooted more than 20 times.
Help runoff
Meanwhile, apart from the recent blockade of 80 days, the humanitarian response “has Never been more forced. The amount of assistance that humanitarian workers are able to bring to Gaza is “a fraction of what is necessary”, at a time when a kilo of wheat flour costs $ 25.
He added that the operating environment “is simply impossible”. Active military operations occur in approximately 85% of the Gaza territory and the teams “are blocked while waiting for clearances and control points, often passing between 15 and 20 hours in a row in their armored vehicles trying to escort our convoys.”
Other obstacles include lack of fuel, spare parts for vehicles and basic communication equipment.
Commitment with Israel
Mr. Skau said Wfp Actively engaged with the Israeli authorities in recent weeks and “there have been commitments” concerning questions such as volumes of aid, faster humanitarian movements and not having the Israel Defense forces (FDI) when the convoys move.
“Now, of course, the proof is in pudding,” he said. “We must now see the delivery and implementation on these commitments, and so far, we have not seen enough progress.”
He noted that WFP had been authorized to provide help in the North Friday for the first time in several days, which was “a key problem”.
“It is not only a question of obtaining enough volumes, but also of being able to enter the North, because in the North, we can deliver more ordered more,” he said.
He told journalists that “There have been problems with armed elements interfering“In the region, which is unacceptable, but stressed the importance of being able to deliver to it” because we think it is the means to help reduce the levels of despair and price. “”
Ceasefire now
Skau said that minor progress concerning commitments “will not be enough to turn the trend of hunger”, stressing the urgent need of a ceasefire in Gaza.
During the ceasefire earlier this year, WFP has facilitated more than 8,000 trucks in the enclave, opened 25 bakeries and hundreds of popular soups and delivered food packages to more than 1.5 million people.
The agency was also able to store its warehouses, which means that operations could continue for about half of the 80 -day blockade.
“We are ready to start again,” said Skau. “” We have enough food on the borders to deliver to the entire population for about two months. But obviously, we need this ceasefire, and we need conditions in this ceasefire. »»
Here, he underlined the need for a humanitarian protocol with a provision that allows multiple routes and entry points into and inside Gaza – as well as a secure environment for delivery.
Later, Mr. Skau was asked about the talks with Israel.
“I feel the recognition that conditions must improve,” he said. “” It has also been recognized that the UN has a key role to play“, He added.
“It was very clear in my commitment that they want the UN to continue to be the main delivery track.
“And if there was certainly a ceasefire, the indications were that they would like us to be ready to evolve and do what we did the last time we on the first day was ready to bring 600 trucks to Gaza. »»
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
Desperate Afghan refugees return to an unfamiliar home
The agency is calling for calm and cooperation to provide a dignified path forward for millions of displaced Afghans.
More than 1.6 million Afghans have returned from both neighbouring countries in 2024 alone, according to UNHCR – a figure that has already surpassed earlier forecasts for the entire year.
‘From Afghanistan – not of Afghanistan’
The scale and speed of these returns are placing enormous pressure on border provinces ill-equipped to absorb them, exacerbating poverty, insecurity and humanitarian need in a country still reeling from economic collapse and widespread human rights abuses.
Complicating the situation further is the fact that many returnees – especially women and children – are coming back to a country they barely know.
“They are from Afghanistan [but] not of Afghanistan – often born abroad with better education and different cultural norms. Their outlook is different from and often at odds with present day Afghanistan,” says Arafat Jamal, UNHCR Representative in the country.
Women and girls in particular face a jarring shift: from relative autonomy in host countries to a context where their rights are severely restricted by edicts from Taliban authorities.
Women’s rights in Afghanistan continue to face severe setbacks, with restrictions deepening across education, employment and public life
Disorientated and disorganised
He reported conditions that he had seen for himself recently in Islam Qala, a key border crossing with Iran.
Daily arrivals have surged to around 50,000 people, many of them disoriented and exhausted after arduous journeys. UN officials described scenes of desperation at reception centres.
“Many of these returnees have been abruptly uprooted and have undergone arduous, exhausting and degrading journeys – they arrive tired, disoriented, brutalised and often in despair, and they sprawl throughout a crowded centre in often 40°C (104°F) heat,” Mr. Jamal said.
While some returns are voluntary, he added that many are occurring under duress or without proper protections in place. Those returning include both officially registered refugees and people in “refugee-like” situations who may face serious risks upon arrival.
Funding crisis
The UN and humanitarian partners have mounted a broad-based response along the borders, providing food, water, health services, protection and onward transportation.
However, funding shortfalls are critically hampering operations. UNHCR’s response is just 28 per cent funded as of July, forcing aid agencies to ration supplies and make painful choices.
“We are living on borrowed funds,” Mr. Jamal said. “Daily, we are asking ourselves – should we give one blanket instead of four? One meal instead of three? These are heartbreaking, soul-destroying decisions.”
The situation is equally dire for other agencies: the wider, UN-led 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Afghanistan – which seeks $2.4 billion to assist nearly 17 million people across the country – is only 22 per cent funded.
Poverty and drought
Recent UN assessments have also warned of deteriorating conditions and deepening poverty within Afghanistan.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued alerts over worsening drought across much of the country, while the UN Development Programme (UNDP) reports that 70 per cent of Afghans already live at subsistence levels, as the collapse of public services and ongoing rights violations leaves millions in despair.
As returnees cross the border, often without notice or resources, local populations are being stretched to the limit.
Mr. Jamal noted that this “precarity layered upon poverty” risks fuelling frustration, competition over limited resources and new forms of social tension.
“Afghanistan may be welcoming, but it is wholly unprepared to receive this volume of returnees,” he said. “The communities who are taking people in are doing so with great generosity, but they are themselves in crisis.”
Global attention
The growing emergency comes just days after the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution expressing “deep concern” over deteriorating conditions facing Afghans.
The resolution, passed with 116 votes in favour and only two against, urged the Taliban to reverse repressive policies and called for renewed international cooperation to support Afghan civilians.
The resolution highlighted the need for “coherent approaches” that bridge humanitarian, development and political efforts. It also called on donor countries to maintain or increase support.
The UN chief condemns the last Houthi attacks against the Red Sea Maritime
According to reports, the rebel group based in Yemen – which has been fighting against the government internationally recognized for control of the country since the early 2010s – attacked Liberian and exploited in Greek Eternity c Monday and again Tuesday, which caused him to flow on Wednesday morning.
Four crew members would have died.
Friday, with 15 crew members, the group would also have taken an unpertured number of sailors that the rebels described as a “safe location”.
Weekend assault
This came after the Houthis launched missiles and drones in another Greek cargo cargo cargo in the Red Sea on Sunday, Magic Seas. The crew was forced to abandon the ship, but the 22 members were rescued, according to reports.
Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have targeted Israeli and commercial ships in the Red Sea considered to be on the way to Israel, in solidarity with the Palestinians in the enclave.
In May, following US air strikes on Houthi bastions and missile infrastructure, the group concluded an agreement with Washington to stop targeting American warships – however, they did not commit to ending attacks on other ships that were reportedly linked to Israel.
Strong conviction: guterres
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric Read a statement Since Secretary General António Guterres Friday at the UN headquarters, saying the UN chief ” strongly condemns the resumption of Houthi attacks against civilian ships Transifying the Red Sea, in particular the attacks which took place on July 6 to 8, 2025. ”
Guterres said that “unacceptable” attacks have endangered the safety of crew members, violated freedom of navigation, disrupted maritime transport and posed serious environmental, economic and humanitarian risks.
Mr. Guterres also stressed that international law must be respected by all parties, stressing that United Nations Security Council resolution 2768 Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial ships must be fully respected.
“” The United Nations remain determined to continue their efforts towards a wider de -escalation in the region As well as continuous commitment to Yemeni, regional and international actors to obtain a sustainable and peaceful resolution in the conflict in Yemen, “he concluded.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
Desperate Afghan refugees return to an unknown house
The agency calls for calm and cooperation to provide a worthy path for millions of displaced Afghans.
Over 1.6 million Afghans returned from the two neighboring countries in 2024 only, according to Hcr – A figure that has already exceeded previous forecasts throughout the year.
‘Of Afghanistan – not Afghanistan’
The scale and speed of these yields exert enormous pressure on the provinces of poorly equipped borders to absorb them, exacerbating poverty, insecurity and humanitarian needs in a country still in shock from economic collapse and general human rights violations.
To complicate the situation, is the fact that many repatriated – especially women and children – return to a country they barely know.
“” They come from Afghanistan [but] No Afghanistan – often born abroad with better education and different cultural standards. Their perspectives are different from and often in contradiction with current Afghanistan“Explains Arafat Jamal, UNHCR representative in the country.
Women and girls in particular face a quarter of a quarter: from the relative autonomy in the host countries to a context where their rights are seriously limited by the edicts of the Taliban authorities.
Women’s rights in Afghanistan continue to deal with serious setbacks, restrictions deepening in education, employment and public life
Disoriented and disorganized
He reported conditions he had seen by himself recently at Islam Qala, a key border crossing with Iran.
Daily arrivals increased to around 50,000 people, many of whom have disoriented themselves and exhausted after arduous trips. UN officials have described scenes of despair in the reception centers.
“” Many of these returnees have been abruptly uprooted and have suffered arduous, exhausting and degrading trips – they arrive tired, disoriented, brutalized and often in despair, and they spread out in a center crowded in a heat often of 40 ° C (104 ° F), heat, heat,“Said Mr. Jamal.
Although certain yields are voluntary, he added that many occur under stress or without appropriate protection in place. Those who return include both officially registered refugees and people in situations “similar to refugees” which can face serious risks when they arrive.
Funding crisis
The UN and the humanitarian partners have set up a broad response along the borders, providing food, water, health services, protection and transportation.
However, funding deficits are hindering operations critically. UNHCR’s response is financed just 28% in July, forcing the aid agencies for rationing supplies and makes painful choices.
“We live with funded funds,” said Mr. Jamal. “” Every day, we wonder-should we give coverage instead of four? A meal instead of three? These are heartbreaking and destructive decisions of souls.“”
The situation is just as disastrous for other agencies: the humanitarian plan and the broader humanitarian response plan and not directed by the unison for Afghanistan – which is looking for 2.4 billion dollars to help nearly 17 million people across the country – are only funded at 22%.
Poverty and drought
Recent UN assessments have also warned of deterioration conditions and deepening poverty in Afghanistan.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (Fao) has issued alerts on the worsening of drought in a large part of the country, while the United Nations Development Program (Predict) reports that 70% of Afghans are already living in subsistence levels, because the collapse of public services and violations of rights in progress leaves millions of despair.
While returnees cross the border, often without notice or resources, local populations are stretched at the limit.
Mr. Jamal noted that this “superimposed precariousness on poverty” risks fueling frustration, competition on limited resources and new forms of social tension.
“” Afghanistan is perhaps welcoming, but it is entirely not prepared to receive this volume of repatriases“, He said.” The communities that take people do it with great generosity, but they are themselves in crisis. »»
Global attention
The growing emergency comes only a few days after the United Nations General Assembly massively adopted a resolution expressing a “deep concern” concerning the deterioration of the conditions facing the Afghans.
The resolution, adopted with 116 votes in favor and only two against, urged the Taliban to reverse repressive policies and called for renewed international cooperation to support Afghan civilians.
The resolution highlighted the need for “coherent approaches” which fill humanitarian, development and political efforts. He also called on donor countries to maintain or increase support.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
