Iran Urges More Global Funding to Support Afghanistani Refugees

DID Press: Iran has called on the international community to provide stronger financial backing for its programs supporting Afghanistani refugees, citing the country’s long-standing humanitarian role despite economic sanctions.

Sayed Mohammad Bathaee, Iran’s deputy interior minister and head of Social Affairs Organization, made the appeal on the sidelines of the 76th annual meeting of the UNHCR Executive Committee in Geneva.

Bathaee stressed that Iran has hosted millions of Afghanistani migrants for decades and continues to offer broad social and humanitarian services despite economic pressures caused by unilateral sanctions.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has provided extensive services to Afghanistani refugees for several decades despite economic hardship, and donor countries must fulfill their share of responsibility in supporting these efforts,” Bathaee said during a meeting with Kim Elling, senior adviser to the director-general of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

While several programs are underway to organize and support foreign nationals in Iran, achieving their objectives is impossible without international financial assistance, he added.

Elling praised Iran’s humanitarian efforts and said declining global aid has become a major challenge for refugee-support projects, hoping international assistance would increase.