At a refugee camp on the border with Pakistan, Afghan families gather, waiting to return to their homeland. Nasruddin, his wife Bibe and their three children have made it across the border. They are glad to return after spending years eking out a miserable existence in refugee camps in Pakistan: "We are very happy. Pakistan was very hot. we're happy to return to our homeland." But they return home to find their house occupied by homeless squatters. They are the lucky ones - at least they still have a home. 35-year old Mahjan spent most of the past five years in a succession of refugee camps in Pakistan. When her family came back three months ago, they had nowhere to go, and are now living in the bombed-out ruins of an electricity company building. She remains philosophical however: "We'd rather be in this situation than in Pakistan or another country."

Kabul has now swelled from the shell of a city it was a few months ago. But water shortages have the city authorities worried, and aid agencies are struggling to cope and have been forced to cut food and clothing supplies. "It's good to see them return but, obviously, it does have a breaking point," comments Major Steven Odell of ISAF. That breaking point is looking closer every day, and with winter approaching the future for these refugees is looking increasingly uncertain. This film highlights the difficulty of rebuilding countries affected by the war on terror.

Produced by SBS Australia