Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), says that the war by Israel and the United States against Iran has affected the lives of more than four million Afghanistan migrants in Iran.
Speaking on Wednesday, May 13, Egeland said that with the start of the Iran-US war, a large number of Afghanistan migrants in Iran lost their jobs and are now unable to meet their families’ needs or pay rent due to declining incomes and inflation.
He added that food costs have doubled compared to last year, forcing people to skip meals, postpone medical treatment, and take on more debt.
Egeland also said that the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has provided emergency cash assistance to thousands of Afghanistan migrant families in Iran to help them purchase essential goods and food supplies.
He added: “We are providing mental health support to children, parents, and teachers, repairing schools damaged by war, and creating safe spaces for children to continue their education. The war has displaced millions of people.”
The head of the NRC stated that the organization currently has funding to support only another 1,000 families, while many more families remain in urgent need of assistance.
Egeland warned that without additional funding, the council’s emergency aid operations will run out within a month.
According to him, the NRC has been supporting Afghanistan refugees in Iran since 2012.
Meanwhile, Iran and Pakistan continue to forcibly deport thousands of Afghanistan migrants from their territories to Afghanistan every day.
