The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) warned on Monday that millions of Iranian civilians and Afghan refugees living in Iran have been severely affected by the Iran war, which has forced millions to flee their homes across the country. Jan Egeland, NRC Secretary General, said during a visit to the country that essential civilian infrastructure has been damaged, exacerbating deep humanitarian needs.
“Families here in Iran, both vulnerable Iranians and Afghan refugees, are paying a terrible price for this war,” said Egeland.
“Widespread US and Israeli airstrikes forced millions to leave their homes in search of safety. Children are traumatized and have had their education disrupted, whilst parents struggle to make ends meet due to inflation and rising prices. Everyone I have spoken to feels fearful that the war will again escalate.”
Scale of the humanitarian crisis
Since the war began on February 28, nearly 3,400 people have reportedly been killed in airstrikes by both warswaging nations across Iran, leaving more than 32,000 injured and shattering millions of lives.
The relentless US-Israeli air campaign in densely populated areas triggered massive displacement, with millions fleeing Tehran in search of safety. At the beginning of the war, some 3.2 million people were temporarily displaced. Those who temporarily relocated are now returning, but those whose homes and livelihoods were destroyed remain displaced.
In total, nearly 150,000 homes, shops, schools, and other civilian buildings have been damaged, directly affecting an estimated 400,000 people. Additionally, 17 million pupils remain unable to attend school in person.
Healthcare system under strain
Last week, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warned that the humanitarian consequences of the escalation in Iran continue long after the ceasefire. Healthcare delivery has been seriously disrupted nationwide, including at 56 Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) centers.
Disruptions to healthcare and medical supply chains are becoming life-threatening for patients living with chronic illnesses, while restrictions affecting transport routes continue to complicate access to critical medicines and equipment.
Despite these pressures, IRCS teams have continued large-scale humanitarian operations, including search and rescue, emergency medical care, and psychosocial support services.
Funding shortfalls threaten emergency response
Aid agencies warn that funding shortages are increasingly constraining their ability to respond. For example, the IFRC’s Emergency Appeal for Iran is currently only four percent funded.
The IFRC has called on donors and the international community to provide sustained and flexible funding to support emergency operations, recovery efforts, and longer-term humanitarian needs.
Similarly, NRC stressed that it is operating with only a third of the funding needed to sustain emergency relief efforts.
“Civilian life in Iran has been turned upside down as a result of the war,” said Egeland.
“NRC and our partners have been doing all we can to support Afghan refugees and displaced Iranians. But we only have a third of the funding we need to sustain our emergency relief efforts.”
Afghan refugees among those most impacted
With over 4.4 million Afghans seeking safety and livelihoods in Iran, the country currently hosts the world's largest refugee population. According to local officials, about 2.4 million of these refugees reside in Tehran.
NRC emphasized that these more than four million Afghans are among those most affected by the consequences of the war, with over one million remaining at risk of deportation to Afghanistan.
The NRC Secretary General warned that, without further funding, his organization will have to reduce its emergency relief efforts rather than scale up for those in desperate need.
“We only have funding from Norway, Sweden, and the European Union, in spite of Iran being the world’s largest refugee-hosting country and the dramatic impact of the war on civilians,” he added.
“Without proper resources for this crisis response, the lives of both Iranian civilians and Afghan refugees will face severe consequences from this war, for years to come.”
Most of the four million Afghan refugees have lived in the country for decades in urban and semi-urban industrial areas, where the war and sanctions against the Iranian economy have curtailed their employment opportunities.
“The people I’ve met here in Iran speak of terrible loss: homes, family members, life savings, but also of the traumatizing impact the war has had on children. Now, economic pressures are robbing them of their hope for the future,” said Egeland.
“It is vital that we support both the vulnerable Iranian and Afghan refugee population, to prevent a further deepening of this humanitarian crisis.”
NRC urges all parties to commit to permanently ending hostilities. A sustained ceasefire and a lasting peace agreement would enable civilian populations in conflict-affected countries to gradually resume their lives and facilitate safe humanitarian access for relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Conflict background and ceasefire uncertainty
On February 28, Israel and the United States initiated a war on Iran, sparking a wider regional conflict. After 40 days of hostilities, the announcement of a two-week ceasefire on April 7 briefly raised hopes for de-escalation. The ceasefire has since been extended several times to allow for negotiations. However, negotiations between the United States and Iran have failed to produce a final agreement, leaving the future of the ceasefire uncertain.
Meanwhile, Israeli military operations in Lebanon persist, including ongoing airstrikes and large-scale ground incursions, despite a separate ceasefire agreement. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence, and the need for assistance becoming increasingly urgent. In Lebanon, more than 3,500 people have been killed and over 10,000 have been injured since March 2.