Kabul/Kuala Lumpur/Geneva, 21 July, 2025 -
The IFRC is deeply concerned about the future of people living in and returning to Afghanistan, a country that is already facing multiple, overlapping crises.
“If the international community doesn’t step up now, communities in Afghanistan will be overwhelmed by the sheer number of people returning,” said Sami Fakhouri, Head of Delegation, IFRC Afghanistan.
More than 2.6 million people have returned from Pakistan and Iran, according to UNHCR data, arriving in a country they must now call home - often with nothing to rebuild their lives.
“We’re already having to make tough choices, like whether we have enough funding to continue providing even the most basic support, such as food at the borders for those returning. Right now, only 10 percent of the required funding has been secured,” added Fakhouri.
Together with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) and Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners, the IFRC aims to shift its focus toward the longer-term resettlement and recovery of returnees.
Support at the crossing points
At border crossing points, ARCS is supporting returnees with essential provisions including food, clean drinking water, and vital health services to help them withstand extreme heat. Each day, ARCS distributes over 6,000 hot meals at Islam Qala and 500 at Milak in Nimruz province.
Mobile health teams provide outpatient care, while mental health teams offer psychological first aid and counselling. A cash-for-work programme also supports hygiene in camps and provides short-term income.
Since April, more than 226,000 people have received support from the ARCS and Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners. But with limited resources and more people arriving every day, the pressure on the ARCS, IFRC, and partners is growing rapidly. Without more funding, even basic services—like meals at the border—may have to stop. Urgent support is needed to sustain this life-saving work.
Empowering returnees
In the provinces and communities where returnees settle, the ARCS provides training for both men and women to gradually rebuild their lives and better prepare for the future, for example by learning about agriculture or how to better prepare for natural disasters like flash floods.
Three families who returned from Iran and seven families who crossed from Pakistan have joined the ARCS Marastoon programme, which offers vocational training for vulnerable returnee women across eight provinces over a three-year period. These families are just a few examples among the millions of people now facing the difficult process of reintegration in Afghanistan.
The programme equips women with practical skills to strengthen self-reliance and create income-generating opportunities, helping them rebuild their lives with dignity. This support is especially vital for Afghan women, who continue to face serious barriers to healthcare, education, and personal safety in a context where their rights remain severely restricted.
“As millions return to Afghanistan with almost nothing—no homes, no jobs, and no safety net—this is not only a humanitarian emergency but also a test of our long-term commitment to invest in programmes like Marastoon,” says Fakhouri.
The ARCS has served communities across Afghanistan for decades, supported by more than 26,000 dedicated volunteers and staff. However, without urgent and increased international support, their ability to respond effectively is at risk.
More than immediate aid is needed. To help families move from crisis to sustainable recovery, long-term investment in support programmes is essential, empowering people to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope for the future.
Audio visual materials from Islam Qala are available.
Nicole van Batenburg, +31 6 38217459 (WhatsApp)
Muqbel Sayed Eshaq +93 70 733 6040
Lili Chin, +60 16 2340872
Hannah Copeland, +41 76 236 9109