The United Nations has initiated various projects worth $40 million in the southern and southeastern provinces of Afghanistan. According to UN officials in Afghanistan, these projects are expected to be completed by 2025, with a focus on addressing the challenges faced by returning refugees and local communities.
Indrika Ratwatte, the UNAMA deputy special representative for Afghanistan, said: “Yes, there are very immediate and specific needs for returnees, but the approach is also to take a community-based approach, because the community also has some of these needs — and education, access to basic health — so wherever we try to have programs, we look at it in terms of the community needs and the returnees together.”
Meanwhile, some families who have recently returned expressed their gratitude for the UN’s assistance but emphasized the need for more development projects.
Shah Mahmood, who was deported from Pakistan, said: “They provided us with solar panels and batteries, along with about 20,000 afghani, but nothing else, and we are facing many challenges.”
Sediqullah, a resident of Paktia, said: “Our area is very large, and the entire region is at risk due to floods. We request you help build infrastructure in areas that are not yet developed.”
During his visit to Balkh, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN also mentioned that since 2016, they have assisted 60,000 families in Afghanistan in the areas of small businesses and agriculture.