KABUL (Pajhwok): The representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Afghanistan says $520 million has been requested from donors to address the needs of returnees in the country.
The Ministry of Economy said in a statement that Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, met with Economy Minister Qari Din Mohammad Hanif.
During the meeting, Oyewale said that of the requested $520 million, $100 million is allocated for providing basic services, while the remaining $420 million is intended for resettlement support and assistance to returnee families.
He also assured continued humanitarian assistance and support programmes from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to address challenges faced by returnees, respond to food insecurity and combat climate change.
Meanwhile, Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, while appreciating UNAMA’s continued humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, stressed the need for greater international and donor focus on development aid, job creation and lifting of sanctions.
He added that creating employment opportunities and strengthening development cooperation would help pave the way toward economic self-sufficiency.
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