Iranian Economic Crisis Forces Thousands of Afghans to Return Home

Thousands of Afghan migrants are returning to Afghanistan from Iran, fleeing the severe economic downturn gripping the Islamic Republic. This crisis is attributed to the war with the United States, sanctions, and the blockage of Iranian oil exports. Families arriving at the Islam Qala border crossing in Afghanistan's Herat province report having little to no savings left after months of unemployment and soaring inflation. According to the International Organization for Migration, only 29% of recent returnees from Iran still possessed savings, with average incomes falling by nearly a third.

For decades, Iran served as a refuge and source of employment for millions of Afghans escaping conflict and poverty. However, Iran is now experiencing an annual inflation rate of nearly 90%, with food prices surging by approximately 130%. Many migrants have lost their jobs or can no longer afford basic necessities, with some alleging unpaid wages from Iranian employers. The UN reports that over two million Afghans have left Iran in the past two years, with a recent surge in voluntary returns coinciding with the start of the war.

Unlike previous waves of migration, which were predominantly single men, the current returnees include a significant number of women, children, and entire families. For Afghan women, this return is particularly difficult due to the Taliban's severe restrictions on education, work, and movement, including barring adolescent girls from continuing their schooling past sixth grade. Families who had established lives in Iran now face unemployment, inadequate housing, and reliance on relatives in Afghanistan. Some young girls expressed regret over leaving their schools and future prospects in Iran.

Despite these hardships, some returnees are attempting to rebuild their economic lives. One family, after exhausting their savings, restarted a small pizza cheese production business in Afghanistan.