Norwegian Refugee Council chief warns that aid cuts deepen Afghan suffering

Jan Egland, secretary of the Norwegian Refugee Council, highlighted that the refusal to maintain diplomatic ties and the suspension of humanitarian aid fail to address the needs of Afghans returning from abroad. He noted that close to six million people have come back from Iran and Pakistan in the last three years, often arriving without housing, work, or basic necessities. According to Egland, only a handful of nations still provide aid, and very few engage with Afghan officials to press for improvements in women’s and girls’ rights.

He warned that cutting aid and diplomatic outreach does not help the millions in need, but rather deepens their suffering. UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan also reported ongoing challenges among returnees, calling for continued donor support. Local activists echoed the call for urgent international assistance to manage the large influx of returnees.