UNHCR welcomes funding from the Republic of Korea for vital shelter, mental health and psychosocial support to tens of thousands of vulnerable Afghans

AFGHANISTAN – Thanks to generous funding of USD 3 million from the Republic of Korea, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, will be able to provide vital support to displaced Afghans, returnees, and vulnerable host communities across Afghanistan. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has left millions in difficult conditions, with shelter emerging as one of the most critical needs. Decades of conflict, coupled with recurrent natural and climate disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and harsh winters, have displaced families, forcing them to live in unsafe or makeshift accommodations. The crisis has also had a severe impact on people’s psychosocial wellbeing, with estimates showing that more than half of the population are affected by psychosocial distress.

The new grant will allow UNHCR to construct permanent shelters designed to benefit approximately 400 households, or around 2,800 individuals, targeting recently returned refugees. These shelters will offer more than just a roof over their heads — they will provide a safe, resilient, and dignified living environment for families striving to rebuild their lives. Engineered to withstand the region’s frequent earthquakes, floods, and harsh climatic conditions, the shelters will enhance the safety and well-being of returnee families, many of whom face heightened vulnerabilities after years of displacement. By creating durable housing solutions, this initiative not only addresses immediate shelter needs but also lays the foundation for long-term stability and reintegration, fostering a sense of security, ownership and hope for the future.

The funding will also help support UNHCR programmes providing mental health and psychosocial support to reach 34,000 people. Programmes include individual counselling and group psychosocial support activities, to address the urgent mental health and psychosocial needs of displaced persons and returnees, along with referrals to specialized care.

“We are extremely grateful for this strong support from the Republic of Korea”, said UNHCR’s Representative in Afghanistan, Arafat Jamal. “It will help us provide help and
long-term solutions to assist some of the most vulnerable who have faced displacement and are trying to rebuild their lives.”

The projects will be implemented in UNHCR-designated Priority Areas of Return and Reintegration (PARRs), where there are high numbers of returnee and displaced families, and where UNHCR works with other agencies to provide essential services and strengthen community resilience for the benefit of all.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Caroline Gluck, Senior Communications Officer
[email protected]

Samand Ibrahimi, Assistant Communications Officer
[email protected]

Faramarz Barzin, Assistant Communications Officer
[email protected]