UNICEF: Mideast conflict worsens plight of Afghan children returning from Iran

The escalating conflict in the Middle East is generating immediate risks for children across borders, with a growing influx of Afghan families returning from Iran highlighting the urgent humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported on Wednesday.

Families are arriving at the Islam Qala border crossing in western Herat province and other entry points, many appearing distressed after an unexpected journey and grappling with uncertainty about their future as they return to their homeland, said Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF representative in Afghanistan.

"We are already seeing too many mothers arriving at reception centers with their children, looking exhausted, overwhelmed and in need of immediate support. If arrivals increase as expected, the risks facing children will grow as well," Oyewale added.

In 2025 alone, nearly 3 million Afghans returned to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries, primarily from Iran and Pakistan, and around 60 percent were families with children, exacerbating existing strains on local resources and support systems, said the report.

UNICEF is calling for enhanced aid to address the mounting needs, including access to critical nutrition, health, water sanitation and hygiene supplies for children and their families.