Oslo, March 14 (NationPress) The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has issued a serious warning regarding the escalating violence along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, which has tragically displaced 115,000 civilians in eastern Afghanistan since February 26. The NRC has called for enhanced protection for civilians and safe access for humanitarian groups to assist affected families.

In just the first eight days of the conflict, 56 Afghan civilians lost their lives, and 129 others sustained injuries.

“Afghanistan is grappling with crisis upon crisis, and it is the civilians who bear the brunt of this turmoil. All factions involved must adhere to international humanitarian law to safeguard civilians and their infrastructure,” stated Jacopo Caridi, NRC’s Country Director for Afghanistan.

“Families already on the edge of survival have been uprooted from their homes. Many are taking refuge in makeshift camps or with local families, while others are forced to rent inadequate housing that they can barely afford. They have lost access to clean water, health care, and education. We urgently require funding to enhance our support for these families,” he further emphasized.

The NRC reported that 826 homes have been damaged due to the conflict, with particular concern for child and women-headed households and the elderly in the provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar, many of whom have received no support.

“Over 25,000 individuals displaced by the earthquake in Kunar province six months ago face evacuation orders. They have been compelled to return to their home areas, where services are nearly non-existent, jeopardizing their health and safety. An additional 14,500 people face the risk of being displaced again,” the NRC highlighted.

Furthermore, health services at more than 20 facilities have been suspended due to the ongoing insecurity, with five facilities damaged from airstrikes and shelling. The World Food Programme (WFP) has also been forced to halt food distributions.

“We left everything behind—our belongings, clothes, everything. We don’t even know the fate of our home,” recounted Bakhtiar, an Afghan civilian who fled from Torkham, near the Pakistan border.

The NRC noted that Afghans in Iran are also feeling the impact of regional instability, with the country currently hosting over 4.4 million Afghan refugees, including about 1.4 million undocumented migrants at risk of forced repatriation. Some families have already begun returning to Afghanistan due to safety fears, with approximately 1,700 refugees reportedly returning each day.

“In a world fraught with unrest, we must not forget the Afghans. Surging food prices and closed borders are exacerbating the survival challenges for families whose lives have already been shattered by conflict,” concluded Caridi.