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UN launches $23 million project to support returnees, displaced families in northern Afghanistan
The project will be rolled out over 24 months in 11 communities across Kunduz and Baghlan and will focus on housing reconstruction, access to basic services, and other critical needs
The United Nations has launched a major new initiative to support return refugees and communities impacted by displacement in Afghanistan’s Kunduz and Baghlan provinces.
The project aims to improve the lives of returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities through infrastructure development, livelihood support, and community-led planning.
The $23.01 million initiative is being implemented jointly by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN-Habitat, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with funding from the UN Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA) and additional contributions from the implementing agencies.
Indrika Ratwatte, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan and the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, formally launched the project during a ceremony attended by UN agency representatives, civil society organizations, and community leaders.
“This joint initiative is essential for ensuring the sustainable reintegration of returnees and meeting the recovery needs of people across the country,” said Ratwatte. “Led by the United Nations and its partners, it is designed to bring real, lasting improvements to the lives of returnees and the communities that welcome them.”
The project will be rolled out over 24 months in 11 communities across Kunduz and Baghlan and will focus on housing reconstruction, access to basic services, disaster-resilient infrastructure, and economic resilience, while also promoting social cohesion through participatory governance.
“We are grateful for introducing durable solutions that will change lives,” said Habibullah Khan, a project beneficiary from Kunduz.
In addition to infrastructure and economic support, the project will address protection issues by offering mine risk education, legal aid on housing, land, and property (HLP) rights, and identity documentation services.
The initiative comes at a critical time, as hundreds of thousands of Afghan returnees, particularly from Pakistan and Iran, continue to place mounting pressure on already strained host communities across northern Afghanistan. The region is also grappling with internal displacement due to conflict, natural disasters, and economic hardship.
“Returnees bring valuable skills, experiences, and networks that can contribute significantly to rebuilding the economy,” Ratwatte noted.
“By supporting housing construction, job creation, and long-term employment opportunities, the project fosters reintegration that enables returnees to become drivers of positive change in their communities.”
The Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan has announced scholarship opportunities for Afghan students under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for the 2027 academic year.
According to the embassy, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan is offering scholarships for graduate-level study at Japanese universities under the research student category, including both regular and non-regular students.
Interested and eligible applicants can download the application guidelines and forms from the official Study in Japan website and are advised to carefully review all requirements before applying.
Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and have prepared all required documents must submit their applications by 25 May 2026. The embassy said late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
The first screening process will include a written examination in Kabul on 18 June 2026, followed by interviews scheduled for July 2026 (date to be confirmed).
The Embassy of Japan noted that the Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan will assist in collecting applications and facilitating written examinations, but will not be involved in the selection process.
It further emphasized that the selection will be conducted independently by the embassy and the Japanese government, based on academic merit, quality of application documents, and performance in written and interview examinations, without consideration of religious, linguistic, or ethnic background.
The scholarship program is fully funded and free of charge. The embassy warned applicants to remain cautious against scams, stressing that no financial contributions are required at any stage of the application process.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, has launched the distribution of more than 1,000 residential land plots for returning migrants in Logar province.
During a visit to Logar, Hanafi inaugurated a new township and said the initiative aims to support Afghan returnees by providing them with housing opportunities and improving settlement conditions.
He called for speeding up the process of distributing residential plots designated for migrants, stressing the importance of timely implementation.
“We inaugurated this township today, which includes more than 1,000 plots. These plots will be distributed to migrants. In addition, other townships will also be constructed soon,” he said.
Hanafi also noted that over the past three years, more than five million Afghan migrants have returned from neighboring countries, adding that efforts are underway to provide them with essential services and support their reintegration.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, has urged the Afghan authorities to take concrete action against militant threats that Islamabad says originate from Afghan soil.
Speaking at an event at the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul marking the first anniversary of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos against India, Nizamani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining “brotherly ties” with Afghanistan.
The ambassador also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in reducing tensions between Iran and the United States, saying Islamabad’s initiatives reflected its commitment to regional and global peace.
During the ceremony, Nizamani reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to defend itself against any aggression.
“Pakistan’s desire for peace must never be mistaken for weakness,” the ambassador said, calling for heightened vigilance against regional threats.
Pakistani officials have consistently claimed that militants use Afghan soil to attack Pakistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has denied this claim and said that Afghanistan is not responsible for Pakistan’s security failures.
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