• Approximately 450,000 Afghans have returned from Iran since early June.
• The return is a response to Iranian authorities' deadline for undocumented migrants to leave.
• There are concerns about the humanitarian impact and adequate support for returnees.
• The UN warns about potential destabilization due to the influx of returnees into Afghanistan.
• Reports indicate that up to one million more Afghans may be sent back by year-end.

Since the beginning of June, around 450,000 Afghans have returned from Iran following a government order for undocumented individuals to exit by July 6. This mass return has resulted in an "emergency" situation at border points, particularly at Islam Qala in Herat province, where numbers peaked at over 43,000 in a single day on July 1, according to the United Nations and reports from multiple outlets.

The UN’s refugee agency reported that more than 1.4 million Afghans have returned this year from traditional host countries Iran and Pakistan, creating a significant pressure on Afghanistan's already strained infrastructure. UNICEF highlighted that a considerable portion, approximately 25%, of these returnees are children, complicating the crisis further. Emergency services at the border have been forced to adjust to accommodate tens of thousands of arrivals each day, which far exceeds their initial planning parameters.

Humanitarian organizations express deep concerns regarding the long-term impact of these mass returns. The Red Cross has warned that an additional one million Afghans could be sent back by the year's end, exacerbating existing humanitarian challenges. Internally, many returnees face homelessness and lack of resources as they reintegrate into a country dealing with prolonged economic hardship and instability, a situation intensified by the recent conflict between Iran and Israel that has led to hurried deportations.