European Union to provide EUR 20 Million to support Afghanistan returnees

Kabul, 21 June 2026 — The European Union is making available a new allocation of EUR 20 million for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to scale up assistance for displaced people and returnees in high-return areas in Afghanistan. 

This financial support comes at a time when the country remains one of the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian crises, further exacerbated with the high number of returns. 

 “The European Union has been a longstanding partner of IOM in responding to displacement and return in Afghanistan. At a time when millions of Afghans continue to return to communities already struggling with limited resources and services, this contribution will enable IOM to expand critical support, strengthen livelihoods, support small businesses, and enhance access to essential services through Community Resource Centres, helping returnees and host communities build more resilient futures,” said IOM Afghanistan Deputy Chief of Mission, Mutya Maskun.

H.E. Veronika Bošković Pohar, Chargée d’Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan noted: “The European Union remains firm in its commitment to support the reintegration of returnees in Afghanistan, helping them transition from dependency towards self-reliance. Our partnership with IOM is central to this effort. Since 2022, the European Union has mobilised more than EUR 140 million to respond to the displacement crisis in Afghanistan through the provision of multisectoral assistance.”

According to IOM data, in 2025 alone, over 2.8 million undocumented Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan.  Many arrive with limited social networks and resources and constrained access to housing, livelihoods and basic services. 

The EU funding will expand integrated support for returnees, internally displaced people, and host communities including through protection services, health, psychosocial support, livelihoods and recovery programmes in high-return areas and provinces. Livelihood support, vocational trainings and assistance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) help facilitate the sustainable reintegration of returnees, especially for women and other vulnerable groups. As part of its area-based approach, IOM will continue to invest in the network of established Community Resource Centres across the country, serving as a single point of access to essential services and referrals, including information and counselling, legal assistance, protection services, and health support.  The programme is implemented in coordination with UN partners and other actors, with IOM leading data-driven response planning and humanitarian coordination.

For more information, please contact: delegation-afghanistan-press@eeas.europa.eu and iomkabulpsu@iom.int