NRC Warns Afghan Families Are in “Free Fall” Amid Worsening Humanitarian Crisis

DID Press: The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has warned that Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis is deteriorating month by month, leaving families increasingly vulnerable to poverty, displacement, conflict, climate change and gender restrictions.

Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the NRC, said during a visit to Afghanistan that the international community had marginalized the country since 2021, with women, girls and vulnerable families bearing the greatest burden.

According to the NRC, about 2.9 million Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan in 2025, while more than 1 million people have returned to Afghanistan since the beginning of this year. The return movement has placed heavy pressure on housing, employment and public services.

Egeland said many returnee families are living without adequate shelter or sustained support, while child malnutrition is increasing. He added that humanitarian organizations have received less than one-third of the funding they require.

The NRC called on the international community to go beyond emergency assistance and invest in long-term programs that create employment opportunities and help returning families achieve self-reliance. It also urged greater international engagement and support to prevent what it described as the “collapse” of the Afghan people.