755m afs needed to aid returnees, IDPs: Balkhi

KABUL (Pajhwok): Refugees and Repatriation Minister Sayed Hussain Balkhi on Tuesday said the government had allocated 20 million afghanis to help refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) but a staggering 755 million afghanis was needed for the purpose.

Balkhi, who appeared before the Meshrano Jirga or Senate, said hundreds of migrant smugglers had been detained.

The minister said the Afghan government with its available resources could not respond to the needs of refugees and IDPs.

He said 3.6 million people had been displaced as a result of the war and natural disasters across the country over the last four years and so far only two million of the IDPs had received aid.

During the period, 3.17 million refugees returned to the country and 820,000 refugees voluntary returned to the country during the ongoing solar year.

Currently 92,000 families or 1.5 million people are in need of urgent help; but the government which depends on international organizations, cannot assist 69,000 of the families, Balkhi said.

He told the upper house that 84,000 families had been identified as vulnerable to harsh winter. He said 28,000 of the families had received assistance but the rest remained in need of help.

The government has set aside 20 million afghanis for refugees and IDPs for 1398 fiscal year while the ministry has requested $10 million (755 million afghanis), he said. He asked the parliament to consider more budget for assistance of refugees and IDPs.

mds/ma