Taliban said in a statement on Monday that United Nations officials, in a meeting with their deputy chief minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, announced the allocation of $10 million in emergency funding to support Afghan migrants returning from neighboring countries, particularly Iran.
Taliban said that a joint delegation from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) met with Hanafi in Kabul. The delegation included UNAMA chief Roza Otunbayeva, and Arafat Jamal, UNHCR’s country representative.
According to the statement released by the Taliban’s Arg palace, Otunbayeva expressed concern over the sharp rise in deportations from Iran in recent weeks.
“The return of Afghan migrants from Iran has increased alarmingly,” she was quoted as saying. “If this trend continues, it will significantly strain humanitarian response efforts.”
Despite a marked decline in international funding for humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, Otunbayeva reaffirmed the U.N.’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations inside the country, particularly returnees facing urgent needs.
She also noted that high-level discussions are ongoing within the international community aimed at halting forced deportations from Afghanistan’s neighbors. These efforts, she said, are intended to yield concrete outcomes in favor of Afghan migrants.
UNHCR’s Arafat Jamal praised Afghan communities for what he described as a dignified and responsible reception of returning migrants, despite the country’s deteriorating economy.
“The Afghan people have welcomed returnees with open arms, even in the face of severe economic hardship,” Mr. Jamal said. “This humanity and solidarity deserve recognition.”
He confirmed that UNHCR has committed $10 million in initial assistance for returnees and is working to secure additional funding. The aid will prioritize shelter, healthcare, food assistance, and psychosocial support for families arriving in increasingly difficult conditions.
During the meeting, Hanafi said the scale of returns has created a humanitarian burden that Afghanistan cannot manage alone.
“Afghan returnees are facing numerous challenges,” he said. “A coordinated and serious effort from the international community is essential. Afghanistan cannot bear this burden without global support.”
UNAMA and UNHCR have not commented on the meeting so far.
The number of Afghans being expelled from Iran has surged significantly in recent months, with tens of thousands crossing back into western provinces such as Herat, many of them without documentation or access to basic services. Aid agencies have warned of worsening conditions at border points and called for increased funding and international coordination to respond to the growing crisis.
Figures show that almost half a million migrants have been deported from Iran since June 1.
