More than four years after the Taliban seized Kabul, Afghanistan is facing overlapping humanitarian emergencies as millions of Afghans are expelled from neighboring countries. The United Nations says over 1.5 million Afghans have returned in 2025 alone, many of them from Iran and Pakistan.

Expulsions from Iran and Pakistan

Iran has ordered undocumented Afghans—estimated at two million people—to leave. Since June’s war between Iran and Israel, Afghan expulsions from Iran have surged, fueled by accusations of espionage. Pakistan also renewed deportation drives in April, canceling hundreds of thousands of residence permits.

Harsh Return Conditions

Returnees often arrive disoriented, exhausted, and with few resources. Aid once offered by UNHCR has been slashed from $2,000 per family to just $156, barely enough for survival. Inside Afghanistan, life is marked by Taliban restrictions on women, water shortages, and widespread hunger. UNICEF says one-third of Afghans lack clean drinking water, while the World Food Program warns 3.1 million face starvation.

Aid Cuts and Health Crisis

International aid has declined sharply. The U.S. halted nearly all programs in April, followed by cuts from the U.K. This funding loss has closed over 400 health facilities and malnutrition centers. Local journalist Zahra shared one tragic story: a pregnant woman and her baby died after being unable to reach an open clinic due to Taliban travel restrictions for women.

Calls for Global Action

With UNHCR operating on less than a quarter of needed funds, aid groups are struggling to respond. “More humanitarian aid is urgently needed to protect and assist Afghans forced to flee,” the agency said. UN experts have warned that the crisis amounts to “crimes against humanity” and urged the international community not to turn away.