The United Nations is warning that Afghanistan risks becoming the world's next great humanitarian disaster if an urgent plea for food and funds is not answered soon.
World Food Programme (WFP) spokesman Mr Khaled Mansour said the country could soon be inhabited by "walking skeletons" as the UN agency's new boss toured this Afghan refugee camp in northwestern Pakistan.
"Regretfully we (often) have to wait until we have walking skeletons before we get the money. We hope this doesn't happen in Afghanistan.
"People are dying not only because of starvation but also because of malnutrition," Mr Mansour said.
Aid workers have already warned Afghanistan's meagre resources are being stretched to the limit by the returnees, with around 1,090,000 - more than a million from Pakistan alone - signing up to head home in less than four months.
Violence is rife and many areas lack food, clean water and adequate health care. According to aid workers here, some returning refugees are taking one look and heading back to Pakistan.