UNICEF Seeks $520M to Support Returning Afghan Migrants

DID Press: UNICEF has requested $520 million in international assistance to respond to the growing needs of returning Afghan migrants, according to officials in Afghanistan.

The announcement followed a meeting between UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, Tajudeen Oyewale, and Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, Afghanistan’s acting economy minister under the Taliban administration.

According to a statement released by the Taliban-run Economy Ministry, $100 million of the requested funding would be allocated for essential services, while the remaining $420 million would support resettlement programs and assistance for returning families.

Oyewale also said that humanitarian aid and support programs by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan would continue to address challenges facing returnees, including food insecurity and climate-related pressures.

During the meeting, the Taliban economy minister expressed appreciation for UN humanitarian assistance but called for greater international focus on development aid, job creation, and the removal of sanctions.

He said expanding employment opportunities and strengthening development cooperation could help Afghanistan move toward economic self-sufficiency.