KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – South Korea has pledged $3 million to assist displaced people, returning refugees, and vulnerable host communities in Afghanistan, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has announced.
In a statement on Monday, UNHCR welcomed the contribution, stating that it will enable the agency to build permanent shelters for 400 families and approximately 2,800 returnees. Additionally, the funding will support mental health and psychosocial services for 34,000 individuals affected by decades of conflict and instability in the country.
“We are extremely grateful for this strong support from the Republic of Korea,” said Arafat Jamal, UNHCR’s Representative in Afghanistan. “It will help us provide both immediate assistance and long-term solutions for some of the most vulnerable people who have faced displacement and are trying to rebuild their lives.”
This funding follows South Korea’s previous contribution of $5 million to support the World Food Programme’s humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.
The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has deepened since the Taliban regained control, with the UN describing it as one of the world’s most severe emergencies. Nearly 23 million people, mostly women and children, are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The WFP reports that around 15 million Afghans—one in three—face acute food insecurity, unsure of where their next meal will come from. This growing need is driven by a combination of factors, including a significant influx of returnees, widespread internal displacement, devastating natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, and rising levels of poverty and unemployment.
Meanwhile, the United States, the largest donor for humanitarian programs in Afghanistan, has recently suspended critical aid, worsening the already dire situation.