The UN refugee agency has built 200,000 homes for returning refugees and internally displaced persons in Afghanistan since 2002, benefiting 1.4 million people. This initiative, costing $250 million, has facilitated the return of 4.5 million refugees, with over 112,000 returning this year. Shelter is a primary concern for Afghan refugees, and UNHCR has assisted over 17,000 vulnerable returnee families in 2024. Returnees contribute skills and capital to Afghanistan’s economy but strain rural communities’ resources. The housing program focuses on rural areas, with security and development crucial for successful reintegration. UNHCR continues the housing program due to ongoing fragility in humanitarian conditions.
