Afghanistan is facing an increasingly severe humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations warning that growing economic hardship, mass displacement, and social restrictions have significantly increased the risks of human trafficking, forced labour, and other forms of exploitation across the country.
According to a joint warning issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Afghan citizens have become increasingly vulnerable to trafficking networks amid worsening economic conditions and limited livelihood opportunities.
The agencies stressed that the combination of returning refugees, economic decline, and restrictions affecting women has created an environment in which criminal groups can more easily target vulnerable individuals.
The UN agencies mentioned findings from the latest Returnee Resilience Overview Survey, which revealed that only 11 percent of returning Afghan refugees are currently employed, while 56 percent are unable to meet their basic household expenses.
The report suggests that the deteriorating economic situation has pushed many families into extreme poverty, increasing their exposure to exploitation.
In this regard, the prolonged economic crisis has left many Afghans vulnerable to debt bondage, forced labour, forced marriages, and even organ trafficking. Criminal networks are also reportedly using deception and coercion to recruit individuals into online fraud operations and other illicit activities.
IOM Director General Amy Pope warned that organized criminal groups across Asia are increasingly using social media platforms to lure people with false promises of employment before subjecting them to human trafficking, physical abuse, and psychological exploitation.
Meanwhile, Polak Oksre, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s representative in Afghanistan, emphasized the urgent need for stronger measures to prevent human trafficking and improve the identification and protection of victims. He said immediate and coordinated action is essential to address the growing threat.
However, the IOM Chief of Mission in Afghanistan, Mee Hyung Park, also expressed concern over the unprecedented return of Afghan refugees, stating that the influx has placed enormous pressure on local communities already struggling with limited employment opportunities and inadequate public services.
She warned that these conditions may force vulnerable individuals to resort to irregular migration routes, increasing the risk of exploitation by traffickers.
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan continues to draw international concern, with UN agencies calling for enhanced protection mechanisms, greater humanitarian assistance, and coordinated international efforts to safeguard vulnerable populations from trafficking and exploitation.
