IOM seeks $589m for Afghanistan, neighbours

KABUL (Pajhwok): The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has sought more than $589 million to respond to the urgent humanitarian and protection needs of people in Afghanistan and six neighbouring countries.

While launching the appeal in Geneva on Tuesday, officials of the UN agency said they needed the money to assist more than 3.6 million crisis-affected people and strengthen the communities' resilience and recovery.

Ugochi Daniels, IOM deputy director general for operations, said: "The ongoing crisis in Afghanistan is intensifying humanitarian needs and increasing displacement risks both inside the country as well as across borders to countries in the region."

IOM’s revised Comprehensive Action Plan (CAO) for Afghanistan and neighboring countries builds on its expertise in dealing with migration and displacement crises.

Daniels added in the wake of last year’s political upheaval and transition, more than half of the Afghan population was in need of humanitarian assistance.

More than 700,000 Afghans were driven into displacement last year, adding to around 5.5 million people already in protracted displacement by mid-August 2021.

Given the risk of further deterioration of the socio-economic and security situation in Afghanistan, IOM said, internal displacement and cross-border movements, mainly to Iran and Pakistan, could continue in the coming months.

PAN Monitor/mud