Governments across Europe are ramping up deportations of Afghan refugees at a moment when Afghanistan is in the grip of one of its worst humanitarian crises in years — and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is warning that forced returns could cost lives, according to an IRC press release. At least 40% of Afghanistan's population is facing hunger, at least 17 million people are food insecure, and around 5 million are one step away from famine-like conditions. Over 22,000 Afghans have been ordered to leave the EU as of late 2025, under pressure from member states seeking to crack down on irregular migration.