EU, UNHCR launch €36 million aid program for displaced Afghans
The European Union (EU) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have signed a €36 million agreement to support displaced Afghans and host communities in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asia. The initiative aims to provide protection, livelihood opportunities, and essential services to hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees, returnees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Part of a €110 million UNHCR program, the funding targets one of the world’s largest refugee populations. Currently, 2.6 million Afghans are registered as refugees globally, with 2.2 million in Iran and Pakistan. Within Afghanistan, 3.2 million people remain displaced, while many have returned from neighboring countries since late 2023.
“This contribution is part of a broader EU effort to improve living conditions for displaced individuals and their communities,” said Veronika Boskovic Pohar, Chargée d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Afghanistan. Running from January 2025 to December 2027, the program will address Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis by promoting self-reliance and social cohesion.
Key activities include legal assistance, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities like microloans and vocational training, with a focus on empowering women, children, and vulnerable groups. UNHCR Representative Arafat Jamal described the agreement as a step toward rebuilding lives, fostering resilience, and supporting long-term solutions for displaced populations.
