Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Alexander Matheou, Regional Director for Asia Pacific of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), on Tuesday and urged him to intensify efforts to support returning Afghan refugees, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Muttaqi expressed appreciation for the IFRC’s services in Afghanistan and emphasized the importance of the organization’s effective collaboration with vulnerable communities across various sectors, the statement read.

He urged all international humanitarian organizations, particularly the IFRC to expand their support for needy returnees.

He specifically pointed out that the recent surge in returning Afghan migrants from Pakistan and Iran has created an urgent need for the provision of shelter, safe drinking water, healthcare services, and livelihood opportunities.

Muttaqi further called for the establishment of well-equipped and standardized clinics within the country to treat children suffering from heart conditions.

In response, Alexander Matheou stated that approximately 300 clinics and hospitals in Afghanistan are currently supported by the IFRC, and pledged to continue and expand the organization’s healthcare assistance in the country.

Matheou also thanked the Islamic Emirate for its cooperation in facilitating humanitarian operations and the equitable delivery of services, promising to intensify efforts to support cardiac patients and provide broader assistance to vulnerable Afghans.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation, expansion of humanitarian aid, and increased financial and logistical support for healthcare centers across Afghanistan.

More than 800,000 Afghans have returned from Iran through the Islam Qala border crossing in western Afghanistan since January 2025, with over 137,000 arriving in June alone, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The massive influx is placing mounting pressure on an already fragile humanitarian landscape.

Many of the returnees arrive in dire condition—exhausted, dehydrated, and lacking basic necessities. At Islam Qala, temperatures frequently soar beyond 40°C, and families often arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs.

Children show visible signs of malnutrition, and mothers express deep anxiety about what lies ahead.

“This issue hasn’t received the attention it deserves,” said Alexander Matheou, IFRC Regional Director for Asia Pacific, during a recent visit to the border. “These individuals are not just statistics—they are families returning to a country that is already burdened by conflict, economic collapse, and natural disasters. They deserve dignity and immediate support.”

The returning population includes many who have lived in Iran—or Pakistan—for years, in some cases decades.

Their decision to leave is driven by worsening economic conditions, tightening legal restrictions on migrants, and increased regional instability.

Since late 2023, over 1 million Afghans have also returned from Pakistan, intensifying the strain on local communities and public services across Afghanistan.

The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), supported by the IFRC, is spearheading emergency response operations at the Islam Qala crossing.

Volunteers are distributing food and clean water, offering medical services, and operating mobile clinics treating around 500 patients daily—many of whom are pregnant women, children, and the elderly.

Despite these efforts, medical supplies are rapidly dwindling.

“Many mothers we talk to are incredibly fatigued, with their primary focus on the well-being of their children,” said one ARCS nurse. “They’ve endured long journeys under extreme heat, and they’re stepping into uncertainty.”

Once registered, families are transported to Herat City, but challenges continue. Many younger returnees are unfamiliar with life in Afghanistan, while their families struggle to secure housing, income, and access to schools.

Women and girls, in particular, face heightened vulnerabilities in a context where access to education and healthcare remains severely limited.

In June 2025 alone, Afghan Red Crescent volunteers distributed thousands of hot meals daily and provided emergency shelter materials. Still, needs continue to outpace available resources.

“Afghanistan is already under considerable strain,” Matheou stressed. “With the numbers of returning individuals increasing daily—and even more expected soon—this is a crucial time for the global community to act.”

The IFRC is urgently appealing for increased funding and international solidarity to address the escalating crisis. Without expanded support from donors, governments, and humanitarian agencies, the prospects for returning families remain bleak.

“The Afghan Red Crescent Society and its partners are doing everything within their power,” said Matheou. “But the needs are immense. This is not just a border issue—it’s a humanitarian emergency that demands a global response.”

Deep funding cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development and its potential dismantling could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, according to research published in The Lancet medical journal on Monday.

US President Donald Trump’s administration, since taking office in January, has made funding cuts to USAID and its aid programs worldwide in what the U.S. government says is part of its broader plan to remove wasteful spending.

Human rights experts and advocates have warned against the cuts. USAID funding has had a crucial role in improving global health, primarily directed toward low and middle-income countries, particularly African nations, according to the study.

The study estimated that over the past two decades, USAID-funded programs have prevented more than 91 million deaths globally, including 30 million deaths among children.

Projections suggest that ongoing deep funding cuts – combined with the potential dismantling of the agency – could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, including 4.5 million deaths among children younger than 5 years, the study in The Lancet said.

Washington is the world’s largest humanitarian aid donor, amounting to at least 38% of all contributions recorded by the United Nations. It disbursed $61 billion in foreign assistance last year, just over half of it via USAID, according to government data, opens new tab.

“Our estimates show that, unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030,” the study said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in March the Trump administration canceled over 80% of all programs at USAID following a six-week review.

The remaining approximately 1,000 programs, he said, would now be administered “more effectively” under the U.S. State Department and in consultation with Congress, Reuters reported.