Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
- On 17 January, UNHCR and the European Union (EU) launched a new initiative to provide durable solutions for displaced Afghans and host communities across Afghanistan, the Islamic Republics of Iran and Pakistan, and Central Asia. This initiative, backed by a significant EU contribution of EUR 36 million within UNHCR's broader EUR 110 million programme, will strengthen protection, self-reliance, and social cohesion for refugees, returnees, and IDPs. It includes core protection activities such as registration, legal assistance, and access to documentation, alongside essential services in health and education. It also promotes economic independence through cash-for-work opportunities, microloans, and vocational training, with a strong focus on empowering women and girls. Special attention will be given to vulnerable groups, including women, children, and people with disabilities, through community-driven initiatives that ensure their protection and inclusion.
- As part of his visit to Afghanistan, the UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations reaffirmed UNHCR’s leadership in advancing solutions for Afghan refugees by launching the Afghanistan Local Core Group of the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) in a high-level hybrid event on 19 January. The event was chaired by the Netherlands, with its Ambassador in Doha delivering opening and closing remarks. Joined by the Deputy Director of UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific and the UNHCR Representative in Afghanistan, the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations underscored SSAR’s alignment with the Global Compact for Refugees and the urgent need for strengthened partnerships. UNHCR Afghanistan Representative underscored the necessity of sustained funding to ensure long-term impact while expressing concern over regressive measures against women and girls. The Qatari Chargé d’Affaires echoed these concerns, while the EU and UK called for a principled nexus approach. IOM and UNDP recognized their ongoing collaboration with UNHCR, reinforcing its central role in coordinating responses and driving sustainable solutions for displaced Afghans.
- Between 15 September 2023 and 31 January 2025, around 824,200 Afghans returned from Pakistan as part of Pakistan’s (Islamic Republic of) Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan, with UNHCR providing critical assistance to over 118,300 of these returnees. Notably, nearly half (49%) of those assisted are women, including 28% girls, while 29% are boys and 22% men. Among returnees, 2.5% have disabilities and 31% are female-headed households, highlighting the vulnerability of those returning. In Afghanistan, UNHCR continued its vital work, providing biometric processing and cash assistance to Proof of Registration (PoR) card holders and their families, UNHCR slip holders, asylum-seeker certificate holders, and those referred for protection. For more information, please see the latest UNHCR PakistanAfghanistan Returns Emergency Response Update.
- In 2025, UNHCR and its partners provided humanitarian assistance to over 9,500 people across 22 provinces. Among those reached, over 5,200 people received cash assistance, while over 4,300 benefited from in-kind and other forms of assistance, including core relief items, shelter, seasonal assistance, and community-based interventions. Needs assessments were conducted for close to 9,600 people to determine the specific support required.
- On 18 January, UNHCR, in partnership with the International Finance Cooperation, convened a high-level roundtable aimed at strengthening private sector engagement in the reintegration and self-reliance of returnees in Afghanistan. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Afghanistan and the UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations opened the event, stressing the critical role of the private sector in providing employment, capacity building training, financial literacy, and investment opportunities. Demonstrating UNHCR’s commitment to sustainable responses, the event showcased best practices, identified key challenges, and explored opportunities for fostering livelihoods. Participants included Afghan entrepreneurs from Herat and Jalalabad supported by UNHCR’s livelihoods programmes, alongside financial institutions, business associations, and key development partners such as FAO, ILO, UNCTAD, UNDP, the EU, and ADB. Discussions underscored the skills and economic potential of returnees, emphasizing that, with the right support, they can contribute to Afghanistan’s development.