The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has issued a critical funding appeal, announcing that over $400 million will be required in 2025 to support the reintegration of Afghan returnees and their communities.
In a statement posted on May 7, UNAMA emphasized the urgent need for $64 million in emergency assistance at border crossings, as well as an additional $350 million to help 600,000 returnees rebuild their lives after returning to Afghanistan.
UNAMA’s appeal is part of the Integrated Response Plan designed to address the anticipated crisis stemming from the mass return of Afghan migrants, particularly from neighboring Pakistan. The plan calls for a combination of short-term relief and long-term capacity building to break the cycle of displacement and instability.
“We call on donors not only to invest in emergency assistance, but also in long-term capacity building to help break the cycle of displacement and instability,” the statement read.
The Integrated Response Plan aims to provide immediate aid at border entry points and deliver sustainable reintegration support in designated “return areas” for the returnees and affected communities. The strategy focuses on ensuring that humanitarian aid is complemented by broader support for long-term stability.
This appeal comes as over 250,000 Afghan refugees returned home in April, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). However, with nearly seven million Afghan refugees still living abroad, primarily in Pakistan and Iran, the scale of the need remains vast.
Pakistan has indicated its intent to expel up to three million Afghans this year, while Iran has also called on undocumented Afghan refugees to return home. The challenge, however, is significant, as high levels of poverty and unemployment in Afghanistan leave returning refugees in desperate need of support.
Funding cuts to humanitarian efforts have already started to impact the level of assistance available, making the UNAMA funding appeal even more crucial for the reintegration process.
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