The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has begun distributing emergency cash assistance to thousands of Afghan refugees in Iran. This comes as the community struggles to survive the fallout from the escalating US-Israel conflict with Tehran.
Afghan refugees in Iran face hunger and debt, as war and inflation worsen
Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the NRC, described the over four million Afghans living in Iran as the overlooked and forgotten victims of the war.
Egeland said that when the war broke out, countless Afghans had lost their jobs in construction and other informal work. He explained that with incomes collapsing and inflation biting, they had been left unable to feed their families or pay their rent.
The over 4 million Afghan refugees in Iran are the overlooked and forgotten victims of the US/Israel vs. Iran war.
When war broke out, countless Afghans lost their jobs in construction and other informal work. Now, as income collapses and inflation bites, they are left unable to…
— Jan Egeland (@NRC_Egeland) May 13, 2026
Similarly, food costs have nearly doubled compared to a year ago. Egeland noted that families are now forced to skip meals, delay medical treatment, and take on debt.
The NRC’s intervention provides a glimmer of hope. The organisation is delivering emergency cash to help families buy essentials and afford food.
Additionally, it is also offering mental health support to children, parents, and teachers. This is to repair war-damaged schools and create safe spaces for children to continue learning.
Donor funding shortfall threatens NRC’s relief work within weeks
Funding for the relief effort currently comes from Norway, Sweden, and the European Union. Egeland said other donors have so far remained unresponsive, even as the crisis deepens.
“We currently only have funds for another 1,000 families, many others requiring urgent assistance will go with zero. Without further funding, our emergency relief will run out of money in one month,” he said.
The NRC has operated in Iran since 2012, supporting Afghan refugees. The organisation has since scaled up aid to both vulnerable Afghans and Iranians who have lost everything in the war.
The NRC maintains an operational presence in nine Iranian provinces. They also operate at key transit and reintegration hubs in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Jan Egeland has recently condemned the international community’s willingness to fund military campaigns. He noted that critical humanitarian operations across the Middle East face crippling funding shortages and political obstruction.