UN Warns: Conflict in Iran Forcing Afghan Women to Flee Back to Afghanistan

Susan Ferguson has warned that ongoing conflict and insecurity in Iran are forcing Afghan women and children to return to Afghanistan, where a severe women’s rights crisis already exists. Ferguson, representing UN Women, stated that the situation in Iran is pushing vulnerable groups—particularly women and children—back into conditions where restrictions on women’s rights are already deeply entrenched. She added that UN Women, in coordination with partner organizations, is working to provide urgent assistance to returnees, including shelter, healthcare services, and safe spaces. Reports indicate that Afghan women are caught in a double crisis—fleeing conflict in Iran while simultaneously facing legal restrictions and rights challenges upon their return to Afghanistan.