UN begins $23 million aid push for Afghan returnees
New UN initiative to rebuild housing, create jobs, and ease pressure on host communities in Afghanistan’s Kunduz and Baghlan provinces
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — The United Nations has launched a multi-agency initiative aimed at supporting Afghan returnees, displaced families, and host communities in the northern provinces of Kunduz and Baghlan, where growing numbers of people face overlapping humanitarian challenges.
The $23 million program—jointly implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN-Habitat, and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)—seeks to improve living conditions, restore basic services, and create economic opportunities in areas heavily impacted by displacement.
Funding comes from the UN’s Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan, with additional support from the participating agencies.
“This collaborative effort is critical to helping returnees reintegrate sustainably and to supporting communities that continue to carry the burden of Afghanistan’s protracted crises,” said Indrika Ratwatte, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and the UN’s top humanitarian official in the country. He formally announced the launch at a ceremony attended by civil society leaders and UN representatives.
Over the next two years, the project will target 11 vulnerable communities with programs focused on housing reconstruction, disaster-resilient infrastructure, access to water and sanitation, and local job creation. It also aims to strengthen social cohesion by involving residents in decision-making and planning processes.
“We are thankful for the introduction of long-term solutions that will transform lives,” said Habibullah Khan, a local resident from Kunduz expected to benefit from the project.
The initiative also addresses critical protection needs. It includes legal assistance for securing housing and land rights, civil documentation services, and education on the dangers of landmines—a persistent threat in many return areas.
The program comes at a time when northern Afghanistan is facing mounting pressure from the influx of returnees, especially those deported or voluntarily returning from Pakistan and Iran.
The situation is compounded by internal displacement caused by conflict, climate-related disasters, and economic instability.
Ratwatte emphasized that returnees can be a valuable asset in rebuilding local economies if given the tools to succeed. “By investing in housing, employment, and infrastructure, this initiative enables returnees to contribute meaningfully to their communities and drive positive change,” he said.
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