The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has stated in its latest announcement that the forced return of tens of thousands of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan, along with severe droughts and recent earthquakes, has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
In a report, the organization said that about 17.4 million people—nearly 36 percent of Afghanistan’s total population—are facing acute food insecurity, and many families are unable to meet their basic living needs.
The Norwegian Refugee Council further emphasized that the large-scale return of Afghan migrants to areas already suffering from extreme poverty and vulnerability has placed enormous pressure on the limited resources of these communities, putting the lives of millions at risk.
In another part of its report, the Council warned that consecutive droughts and recent devastating earthquakes in eastern and northern Afghanistan have destroyed people’s assets and agricultural land, further weakening their economic capacity.
The NRC also stressed that, with the approach of winter, the international community must urgently send assistance to Afghanistan to prevent widespread hunger.
Iran and Pakistan have intensified the process of forcibly deporting migrants to Afghanistan.
Pakistan, following recent tensions with the Taliban-led interim government of Afghanistan, has further increased the arrest and forced deportation of migrants.
According to a United Nations report, from September 2023 to September 2025, more than 4.5 million migrants have returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan.
