EU pledges €10 million to support Afghan children returning from abroad
Three-year UNICEF partnership to provide border protection, reintegration and essential services for displaced children across Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — The European Union has announced a €10 million pledge to support Afghan children, particularly those returning from neighboring countries, through a new partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The three-year program will deliver immediate care at Afghanistan’s main border crossings for unaccompanied and separated children, while also promoting long-term reintegration across 12 provinces. Assistance will include education, healthcare, nutrition, vocational training and livelihood opportunities to help families rebuild their lives.
More than 180,000 children and families are expected to benefit from the initiative. Services will range from family tracing and reunification to psychosocial support and resilience-building programs aimed at preventing unsafe migration.
The sharp rise in returns from Pakistan and Iran this year has put Afghanistan’s already fragile child protection systems under immense strain. Children travelling alone are especially vulnerable to violence, exploitation and neglect, making border assistance at Islam Qala, Milak, Spin Boldak and Torkham critical to safeguarding their rights.
EU officials said the funding reflects the bloc’s broader commitment to addressing migration and displacement, with particular focus on children and adolescents. UNICEF described the support as arriving at a pivotal moment, as more than two million Afghans — including half a million children — have returned from neighboring countries in 2025 alone.
The initiative builds on efforts launched in 2018, which have already provided essential services to tens of thousands of children. In 2024, nearly 14,000 unaccompanied and separated children returning from Iran and Pakistan received protection and support, with 9,000 assisted directly under the EU–UNICEF partnership.
With this new funding, immediate border assistance will be linked to community-based solutions, offering not only short-term safety but also a pathway to long-term reintegration and opportunity.
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