disaster
UNHCR Afghanistan Situation Regional Update May 2026
By UN High Commissioner for Refugees at ReliefWeb
· June 24, 2026
· 2 min read
Countries: Afghanistan, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Pakistan . During May, Afghan returns from Pakistan and Iran to Afghanistan continued to strain border reception and assistance capacity, particularly at key crossing points such as Torkham. Cross-border tensions with Pakistan persisted throughout
Key takeaway In Herat, de facto authorities announced stricter enforcement of women's dress-code requirements effective from June, further restricting women’s participation in public life.
Why this matters
The situation in Afghanistan and its neighboring countries poses significant challenges for humanitarian access and assistance. The continued strain on border reception and assistance capacity, particularly at key crossing points like Torkham, highlights the need for increased support and resources to address the needs of returning Afghans. The stricter enforcement of women's dress-code requirements in Herat may further restrict women's participation in public life, potentially impacting humanitarian programs involving female staff. In Iran and Pakistan, the protection environment for Afghan refugees remains precarious due to economic pressures, reduced access to services, and rising evictions, leading to harmful coping strategies and widespread psychosocial distress. The decline in arrests and detentions in Pakistan during the Eid period may be short-lived, and the ongoing enforcement measures in Islamabad, Punjab, and Karachi may drive Afghans into hiding or irregular movement, exacerbating protection risks.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Jesus Give surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: disaster ·
Published: June 24, 2026 ·
Source: ReliefWeb ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Countries: Afghanistan, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Pakistan . During May, Afghan returns from Pakistan and Iran to Afghanistan continued to strain border reception and assistance capacity, particularly at key crossing points such as Torkham. Cross-border tensions with Pakistan persisted throughout
When was this published? This article was first published on June 24, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Jesus Give readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by UN High Commissioner for Refugees at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Jesus Give selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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