Afghanistan’s economic woes could fuel a refugee crisis impacting neighbouring countries, Turkey and Europe, the International Monetary Fund has said, BBC reported. The economy will contract by up to 30 per cent this year – which could push millions into poverty and cause a humanitarian crisis, the fund warned. 

The IMF said Afghanistan’s neighbours would be further hit because they rely on its funds for trade, the report said. Bordering Tajikistan has said it can’t afford to take in many more refugees. With foreign assets frozen and most non-humanitarian aid halted, inflows of cash to Afghanistan have all but dried up. In its regional economic outlook, the fund said, “A large influx of refugees could put a burden on public resources in refugee-hosting countries, fuel labour market pressures, and lead to social tensions, underscoring the need for assistance from the international community.”