Afghan businessman Mirwais Azizi has pledged 1 billion Afghanis (around $14.4 million) to assist the country’s migrants returning from Iran amid an unprecedented surge in deportations and growing humanitarian needs.
In a post on X on Thursday, Azizi said he was “deeply saddened and moved” by the forced return of Afghan migrants from Iran and the worsening conditions many now face.
“This is not only a humanitarian crisis but a national responsibility,” he wrote.
Azizi said the funds will be distributed urgently in Herat Province through the Azizi Foundation, his charitable organization. He also called on national and international institutions to respond to the plight of returnees, many of whom have been deported after years of living abroad.
Foundation teams are expected to travel to Herat in the coming days to begin delivering aid, he said.
Azizi expressed solidarity with returnees, wishing them “patience and resilience” and voicing hope that they could rebuild “a dignified and secure life” in their homeland.
The announcement comes amid a sharp rise in deportations from Iran. According to the International Organization for Migration, at last 450,000 migrants have been expelled since June 1, with many arriving back in the country without shelter, identification documents, or support.
