The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) announced it has begun work to rebuild 800 shelters for vulnerable families in Kunduz province, with financial support from the UN Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (UN STFA).
The agency posted on X on Thursday, October 8, stating that thousands of families who have returned to Afghanistan are facing a lack of adequate shelter. This initiative aims to address the urgent need for safe living spaces for these returnees.
UN-Habitat emphasized that despite the start of this program, the overall need for shelter remains vast. Many returning families require assistance to rebuild or repair their homes. The organization called for increased support from the international community.
This effort comes as numerous Afghan families returning from neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan and Iran, face significant challenges, including a lack of access to basic services like housing, clean water, healthcare, and education.
According to statistics from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), approximately 5.4 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since October 2023. This massive wave of returns has placed additional strain on Afghanistan's already limited resources.
Shelter rehabilitation programs like this one by UN-Habitat are crucial for helping these returnees reintegrate and providing them with stable living conditions.
Source: UN-Habitat
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