Afghanistan’s housing crisis is plunging Afghan women returnees into desperate conditions, with only 10% of women-headed households living in permanent shelters. The United Nations’ women’s section warns that these women and girls face heightened risks of poverty, early marriage, violence, and unprecedented restrictions. Since September 2023, over 2.4 million undocumented Afghans, many forcibly returned from Pakistan and Iran, have returned, with women and girls comprising half of Pakistan’s returnees and a third from Iran.
Afghan Women Returnees Stance
“We have nothing—no home, no safety,” said Farida, a mother in Herat, reflecting widespread despair. UN Women reports 40% of women-headed households fear eviction, with 71% in Herat facing rent disputes. Funding cuts have left humanitarian efforts crippled, with women aid workers at borders like Islam Qala overwhelmed. “Resources are gone,” said a worker in Nangarhar.
Susan Ferguson, UN Women’s Special Representative, calls for urgent global funding to provide safe shelters and support women humanitarians. The Taliban, prioritizing returnee issues, has not addressed these claims. As Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis deepens, the housing crisis threatens to shatter vulnerable communities.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 8th, 2025
Follow SouthAsianDesk on X, Instagram, and Facebook for insights on business and current affairs from across South Asia.
