Alexander De Croo, chief of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and Barham Salih, High Commissioner for Refugees, visited Afghanistan on July 6, 2026. UN agencies warned that Afghanistan faces one of the world's biggest displacement crises amid poverty, drought and earthquakes.

According to the latest socioeconomic review by the UNDP office in Afghanistan, a fragile economy, four decades of war, 2.7 million returnees, worsening climate shocks and declining women's participation are increasing pressure on livelihoods and services.

"In Afghanistan, crises rarely happen one at a time," De Croo said. He was on a joint visit with High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih to meet returnee communities, partners and authorities across Afghanistan. In the last year, an earthquake destroyed many homes and livelihoods in the country.

Currently, 74 per cent of the population, or 29 million people, cannot meet basic needs in Afghanistan. Over 570,000 Afghans are projected to need resettlement in 2026. The UNDP is supporting displaced and host communities to rebuild together and move from return to real recovery.

During their visit, the UN agency chiefs traveled to Jalalabad to meet with earthquake-affected communities. They also visited the Sutan Valley, which has been hard hit by an earthquake. The area is seeing the results of recovery efforts, including flood protection and irrigation projects. One project in the valley included women crafting wire mesh and men making bricks to form a barrier to help reduce disaster risk, protect farmland and create income.

"Emergency aid saves lives," De Croo said. "Development gives people their lives back," he added. A UN Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan-supported initiative launched last year has been helping lay the foundation for durable solutions in north-eastern Afghanistan. The Participatory action for integrated developmental assistance to areas of return project seeks to improve access to housing, essential services, economic opportunities and living conditions for hosts, returnees and internally displaced people in 69 displacement-affected communities across three districts of Kunduz and Baghlan provinces.

The project has cleared 6,478 square metres of mine-contaminated land in 11 communities. It has prioritised 28 small-scale infrastructure projects, including protection walls, irrigation improvements and community access works. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, is taking a whole-of-route approach to reduce risks along mixed movement corridors and strengthen asylum systems.