Returnees
Returnees
We help people make an informed decision on when it is safe to return, aim to ensure that any returns are voluntary and dignified, and support people as they rebuild their lives.
Afghan returnees from Pakistan, Torkham border, Nangarhar, Afghanistan.
Supporting refugees and internally displaced people to return home.
For the millions of people forced to flee, returning home concludes an often traumatic time in exile. It may happen months, years, or even decades after they left.
When it is safe to do so, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, facilitates refugees and other forcibly displaced people to return home. We coordinate large-scale and individual repatriations and work to ensure any returns are voluntary, safe and dignified.
However, our work doesn’t end there. Even after refugees have crossed the border back into their home country, or internally displaced people return to their areas of origin, we continue to monitor their treatment. Working with national authorities and development partners, we help them reintegrate into their communities and make sure they can access the same services as their fellow citizens, such as housing, employment opportunities, schools and health care.
By making sure former refugees and internally displaced people are safe and can access their rights, we help ensure returns are sustainable and people are not forced to flee again.
Refugees and internally displaced people can only return home in safety once the root causes for their displacement have been addressed and lasting peace is achieved. In 2023, nearly 1.1 million refugees were able to voluntarily return to their country. A further 5.1 million internally displaced people (people who are displaced within the borders of their own country) returned to their place of origin.