INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The European Union signed an agreement worth 17 million euros with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to improve access to
basic services, increased economic opportunities and protection for Afghans on the move and their host communities in Afghanistan.The needs
of women and girls are a particular focus of the programme, EU said in a statement released on Thursday.The statement noted that from
January 2023 until April 2024, over 1.5 million Afghans returned from Pakistan and Iran.&I am deeply moved by the hardship returnees face
when being deported to Afghanistan
In a country suffering from poverty and climate change, and in a city that just saw devastating earthquakes, this truly is a crisis within a
crisis.&, said Peteris Ustubs, Director for the Middle East, Asia and Pacific of the European Commission&s Department for International
Partnerships during the signing ceremony at the IOM transit centre in Herat.Raffaella Iodice, EU Chargée d&Affaires a.i
to Afghanistan, added &The solidarity of the Afghan people towards their brothers and sisters is an inspiration
We must assure that communities hosting and helping new arrivals are supported
The partnership with IOM ensures access to essential services and provides protection for Afghan returnees and their host communities
As women and girls can be particularly affected, we make sure that all members of society can benefit&.&IOM&s continued partnership with the
EU has been critical in enabling our teams to reach hundreds of thousands of Afghan returnees and other vulnerable communities in the
country&, said IOM Afghanistan Chief of Mission, Maria Moita. &Thanks to this renewed commitment, we will be able to focus on addressing
the immense challenges in the areas of return and contribute to reintegration, social cohesion, and longer-term solutions for those
communities.&This additional contribution is part of a 5-year programme that is being implemented across Afghanistan and in four countries
It builds on the EU&s previous support to IOM to improve the wellbeing of Afghans forced to return to the country, EU said.The post EU
allocates 17 million euros to support Afghans on the move first appeared on Ariana News.
