Five years after international forces and development agencies withdrew from Afghanistan, over six million Afghans have returned from neighboring countries amid an unprecedented regional population shift, according to reports from Islamic Relief and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The influx has increased the local population by 12% in just three years, straining resources in a nation where approximately 28 million people—more than half the population—live in poverty, according to Islamic Relief data.
Humanitarian Funding Crisis and Aid Cuts
Steep cuts to international funding have exacerbated destitution across Afghanistan, forcing essential services to shutter. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Financial Tracking Service data cited by the NRC, funding for the annual humanitarian response dropped from $3.3 billion in 2022 to $1 billion in 2025. Eight months into the current year, the response plan has received only $450 million—about 26% of the $1.7 billion needed. This contrasts sharply with 2021, when the humanitarian plan was nearly 96% funded.
These financial contractions have forced at least 420 rural health clinics to close. “A growing funding gap is forcing humanitarian organisations to scale down food, water, shelter and medical assistance to homeless and starving Afghan families,” said Jan Egeland, NRC Secretary General. Islamic Relief reports that malnutrition is climbing, with 3.7 million children facing acute malnutrition this year, while over 80% of households remain in debt.
Returnee Influx and Shelter Deficits
Since late 2023, more than six million Afghans have returned from neighboring countries, including over one million arriving this year alone. Many return involuntarily with few possessions and no jobs, overwhelming local services in one of the world’s poorest countries. Many returning refugees remain unemployed, facing a severe lack of livelihood opportunities and shelter, according to NRC assessments.
“Most of the returnees, like us, urgently need shelter and opportunities to earn a living. We want the land distribution process to be prompt and responsive to these urgent needs,” said Mohammad Jabbar, a returnee from Pakistan, in an interview with the NRC. While Afghan authorities plan to distribute land plots as a central response mechanism, complex administrative procedures, limited investment, and a lack of essential services continue to hinder successful reintegration.
Did you know?
According to Islamic Relief, the 2024 humanitarian response reached 22.4 million people across Afghanistan, but funding drops have limited assistance to only 6.8 million people so far this year.
Impact on Women, Girls, and Education
Women and girls bear the heaviest burden of the humanitarian crisis, compounded by ongoing restrictions on female education and employment. Muhammad Zulqarnain Abbas, Islamic Relief’s Afghanistan country director, stated: “Aid cuts mean vital services are shutting down, and there has been no change from the Afghan government to allow women to be educated and go to work, which could help struggling families. Many aid projects are the only source of support for women and girls, and they are worst affected by the cuts.”
Individual hardships reflect these systemic constraints. Adila, a widowed mother in Kabul whose name was changed by Islamic Relief to protect her identity, lost her humanitarian aid last year and now relies on a neighbor’s small room in exchange for household chores. “I did have a job but the restrictions on women mean I can no longer earn so much money from that,” Adila told Islamic Relief, noting that her household frequently eats only one basic meal a day.
Despite legal allowances for girls to complete primary school, poverty and cultural barriers often drive high dropout rates. Programs like Islamic Relief’s AGE project have worked with local faith leaders and community elders to build classrooms closer to home and train female teachers, enabling more than 6,000 girls to return to primary education.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Afghans have returned from neighboring countries?
According to aid organizations, more than six million Afghans have returned from countries like Pakistan and Iran since late 2023, with over one million arriving within the current year.
What is the status of humanitarian funding for Afghanistan?
Funding has declined significantly from previous years. UNOCHA tracking data shows that the humanitarian response plan was nearly 96% funded in 2021, but dropped to 26% of required funding for the current year.
How are women and girls affected by the current crisis?
Women and girls face severe restrictions on employment and education alongside widespread aid cuts, which have closed vital rural health clinics and limited access to food, shelter, and medical support.
Support and Relief Efforts
Aid organizations continue to call on international governments to increase development assistance, secure long-term solutions, and engage meaningfully with Afghan authorities to ensure basic services remain operational. To explore more reporting on global humanitarian crises or to learn how you can support ongoing relief initiatives in Afghanistan, subscribe to our newsletter or check out our related coverage.
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