Afghanistan

Allocation	$10,000,000
Emergency type	Displacement/Migration
Window	Rapid Response
Recipient UN Agencies	IOM, UNHCR, WFP
Group of people targeted	Returnees
Number of people targeted	560,211
Status	Under Implementation
Allocation code	CERF-AFG-25-RR-1479
Title	CERF Rapid Response: Afghanistan Jul 2025 (Returnees from Iran)

Overview of the humanitarian situation

The return of undocumented Afghan migrants, particularly from Iran, compounded by earlier returns from Pakistan in 2025, has overwhelmed the country’s fragile infrastructure. Between September 2023 and April 2025, over 2.43 million Afghans returned from both countries, including nearly 145,000 in refugee-like situations. In 2025, conflict in Iran has driven daily returnee numbers to unprecedented levels, peaking at 40,000 on July 4. By mid-July, nearly 1.3 million Afghans had returned, with Iran accounting for the vast majority. The Iranian government’s directive for Afghan nationals to leave by 6 July has further accelerated this trend, with projections suggesting up to 2 million more returns. Border facilities are overwhelmed, and the demographic profile of returnees has shifted toward vulnerable groups such as families, women-headed households, and unaccompanied children. These populations face acute challenges including lack of shelter, food, healthcare, and documentation, which hinders access to services and integration. Social tensions are rising in host communities due to competition for scarce resources. Alarmingly, there’s been a spike in negative coping mechanisms, including gender-based violence and exploitation, with protection concerns intensifying—especially for the 80,000 children who crossed from Iran.

CERF-funded assistance

In response to the crisis, CERF allocated $10 million to enable UN agencies and partners to provide life-saving assistance to 560,211 people, including 160,244 women, 177,110 men, 222,857 children, and 139,088 people with disabilities in the Camp Coordination - Camp management, Food Security (food assistance), Protection and Shelter and Non-Food Items sectors, using multipurpose cash as a modality.

Projects included in this allocation

Organization	Project title	Code	Amount in US$
UNHCR	Emergency Assistance for Afghan Refugees and Persons Living in Refugee-like Situations Retuning from Iran and Pakistan	CERF-AFG-25-RR-HCR-36896	US$3,500,000	Read more
WFP	Provide humanitarian response for Returnees from Iran and Pakistan in Afghanistan	CERF-AFG-25-RR-WFP-36897	US$2,500,000	Read more
IOM	Responding to the Humanitarian and Protection Needs of Undocumented Afghan Returnees at Border Crossing Points with Iran	CERF-AFG-25-RR-IOM-36898	US$4,000,000	Read more