KABUL - The government of Japan on Thursday announced providing $21.3 million to different international agencies for humanitarian and emergency assistance in Afghanistan.
The funding will allow the agencies, including UNHCR, UNICEF, UNMAS, WFP and IOM, to address humanitarian challenges through provision of vital support to refugees returning from Pakistan and Iran.
A statement from the embassy of Japan said to people suffering from food insecurity, malnutrition, natural disaster, displacement and other critical situations would also benefit from the aid.
The UNHCR has been given $4,000,000 to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan, foster sustainable reintegration of returnees and deliver assistance to refugees in south-eastern Afghanistan.
Japan’s contribution would help UNHCR provide protection to and monitoring of returnees, as well as maintain the functioning of three encashment centres in Herat, Nangarhar and Kabul provinces.
UNICEF) – USD 2,300,000
Contribution from the Government of Japan will enable UNICEF to provide water, sanitation and hygiene services to nearly 20,000 individuals who have been affected by conflict or natural disaster.  The project supported by the Japanese fund will also facilitate protection of about 22,000 children and parents in emergency situations and reintegration of about 4,800 unaccompanied Afghan children repatriated from Iran to Afghanistan.
3) United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) – USD 2,000,000
Funding from the Government of Japan will support demining activities in Kandahar, Kunduz, and Farah provinces, where many communities remain affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). It is expected that a total of 1.76 square kilometres of land will be cleared of landmines and ERW, directly benefitting 13,198 people who reside within 500 meters from contaminated areas, with indirect beneficiaries estimated at 456,885. The assistance will contribute to socio-economic development as well as an overall reduction of civilian casualties.
Similarly, WFP has received $8,000,000 for addressing the issue of food insecurity and malnutrition and providing humanitarian air services.
WFP will procure, transport and distribute over 6,850 metric tonnes of food to about 100,000 vulnerable people for two to nine months.
In addition, it will operate air transportation services for passengers and cargos to facilitate humanitarian and development activities in Afghanistan, including timely medical and security evacuation as required.
IOM has been given $5,000,000 to help provide humanitarian assistance to 26,720 highly vulnerable undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan and Iran. The project will establish and pilot a reintegration tracking mechanism for vulnerable returnees in Kabul, Nangarhar, Herat, Nimroz, Khost and Paktika.
The contribution will help facilitate the return of 65 highly qualified Afghans from Iran, 35% expected to be female, to work in and transfer their skills to public institutions in Kabul. (Pajhwok)