"When I look at my children, I become overwhelmed with sorrow. The more I think about it, the more broken I feel."
After living in Pakistan for eight years, Shah Bibi and her family were pressured to abandon everything and leave. They arrived at the border with very few possessions and no idea what the future holds.
Afghanistan is one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
The country is reeling from over 40 years of conflict and disaster. Families are struggling to survive without sufficient shelter, food or water, with 3 in 4 Afghans unable to meet their most basic needs.
With no income, families are forced to make impossible choices, such as whether to skip meals or beg neighbours for flour, whether to withdraw a child from school or take on crushing debt.
The situation for women and girls is dire. Girls are unable to continue their education beyond primary school and are at risk of early or forced marriage. Women are barred from most jobs and from political life. At the same time, funding cuts have fuelled a health crisis and there are widespread shortages of medical supplies and staff, particularly female staff.
With your help, UNHCR will stay and deliver for as long as needed in Afghanistan.
Caring teams are identifying the most vulnerable people and assisting families by repairing homes, providing cash, and distributing basic supplies such as tents, blankets and solar lamps.
Your support is critical. Every donation helps UNHCR reach more families with the aid they need to survive.
Your donation in action
Your donation can support the most vulnerable families in Afghanistan, including refugees forced to return from Pakistan or Iran at short notice. With your help, UNHCR can provide shelter, clean water, cash assistance, and relief items including blankets, tarpaulins and hygiene kits.
Your gift can provide essential items including tents, blankets, solar lamps and clothing for families who’ve lost everything.
Your gift can provide emergency shelter to protect vulnerable families from a harsh winter.
Your gift can provide cash assistance for Afghan families so they can pay for food, heating, medicine and other essentials.
Your generosity is a lifeline
Momena, 20, runs her own bag-making shop in Herat. Generous supporters like you are helping Afghan women learn skills and start businesses to support themselves.
About Afghanistan Crisis
What is happening in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan is one of the world’s most urgent crises. Human rights violations, economic instability and food insecurity are threatening the lives of millions of Afghans.
Communities are still struggling to rebuild their lives after a series of disasters, including deadly earthquakes. At the same time, many refugees who fled the country years or even decades ago are now being deported or pressured to return to Afghanistan. They are arriving at the border with very few possessions and no idea what the future holds.
These ongoing challenges have pushed Afghans to their limits. The recent spike in returns from Pakistan and Iran is placing additional strain on already overstretched resources and services and increasing the risk of further displacement.
Why are some refugees returning to Afghanistan?
Millions of Afghans have returned to Afghanistan since late 2023. Many have been deported from Pakistan and Iran, or otherwise pressured to leave.
They are arriving at the border with very few belongings and no idea what the future holds. Many left Afghanistan decades ago. Others have never seen their homeland. They urgently need assistance to start their lives from scratch.
How will my donation make a difference?
Your donation can help Afghans survive these desperate conditions. Your gift can provide returning families with emergency aid such as relief items, health checks, and cash to cover food and transport. Your gift can also support shelter, clean water, healthcare and livelihood opportunities.
How is UNHCR helping?
UNHCR has been supporting communities in Afghanistan for over 40 years and will continue to stay and deliver. With your support, dedicated teams can meet returning Afghans at the border and provide much-needed aid such as relief items, emergency cash and health checks. UNHCR is also working across the country to reach the most vulnerable families. This includes shelter, clean water, healthcare, education and livelihood opportunities - giving people the chance to recover and rebuild from crisis.
Where can I access the latest data and reports?
Afghanistan Situation Portal – for the latest updates on the situation overall, including UNHCR situation reports, funding requirements and UNHCR’s support for neighbouring countries hosting refugees from Afghanistan.
What is the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan is one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian emergencies. Following 40 years of conflict and instability, around half the population needs humanitarian aid. Human rights violations, economic collapse and extreme hunger are threatening millions of lives. Natural disasters, including drought, floods and earthquakes, have left communities devastated and struggling to rebuild.
These ongoing challenges have pushed Afghans to the limit.
Our fundraising impact
The majority of funds raised by Aotearoa New Zealand for UNHCR are directed to UNHCR’s emergency operations, providing the ready funds and resources to respond quickly and effectively in situations of crisis and disaster.