Funds Running Out For Afghan Returnees, Says UNHCR
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has warned that funding to support Afghan families returning from Iran and Pakistan is rapidly running out, leaving many facing an uncertain future.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has warned that funding to support Afghan families returning from Iran and Pakistan is rapidly running out, leaving many facing an uncertain future.
In a statement on Sunday, the agency said returnees were struggling to rebuild their lives amid growing humanitarian needs inside Afghanistan.
UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that 1.7 million Afghans have returned from the two neighbouring countries since the start of this year. He noted that most had limited ties to local communities and were finding it difficult to secure shelter and livelihoods.
Citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Dujarric stressed that additional funding for Afghanistan remains urgent. OCHA had already warned in June that aid operations in the country were facing a severe budget shortfall.
