Japan Contributes USD 2 Million to Support Returnees and Vulnerable Host Communities in Afghanistan

AFGHANISTAN – The Government of Japan has contributed USD 2 million to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to provide emergency assistance to Afghans returning from Iran and Pakistan, as well as vulnerable host communities across Afghanistan.

Afghanistan continues to face a severe humanitarian situation amid unprecedented large-scale returns. In 2025 alone, more than 2.8 million Afghans returned from neighbouring countries, many arriving with few belongings and facing urgent needs for shelter, food, livelihoods, and protection, particularly in already overstretched communities. The situation has been further compounded by two major earthquakes in 2025 and increasing operational constraints affecting humanitarian delivery.

The project, titled “Provision of emergency assistance for Afghans returning from Iran and Pakistan together with vulnerable host communities in Afghanistan,” will be implemented over 10 months (March–December 2026) and will support 116,310 individuals across return areas.

Through this contribution, UNHCR will provide emergency cash assistance to approximately 23,000 returnees, enabling families to meet their most urgent needs such as transportation, rent, and food in a dignified and flexible manner. Cash-based assistance

will be delivered following biometric registration, protection assessments, and vulnerability screening, prioritizing female-headed households, persons with disabilities, and individuals with heightened protection risks.

UNHCR will also conduct protection monitoring and assessments for more than 77,000 returnees and host community members, including at key border reception centres to identifying protection risks, monitoring human rights concerns, and informing humanitarian response and advocacy. In addition, specialized protection services will be provided to 11,000 women and girls through gender-based violence prevention and response interventions, while child protection services will support approximately 4,400 vulnerable children at risk.

To address critical shelter needs, UNHCR will support the construction of 84 permanent, climate-resilient shelters for returnee families and vulnerable host communities, contributing to safety, dignity, and longer-term stability in high-return areas.

The project aligns with Japan’s priorities on human security, gender equality, peacebuilding, and the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus, as well as with commitments under the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) and the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR).

UNHCR has been present in Afghanistan for nearly 40 years and continues to lead the Protection, Shelter, and CCCM Clusters, working with partners to deliver coordinated, needs-based assistance. Japan’s timely contribution will help mitigate protection risks, strengthen social cohesion, and support returnees as they rebuild their lives with dignity.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Mr. Charlie Goodlake, Senior External Relations Officer

[email protected]

Siwapiwe Madubela, External Relations Officer

[email protected]