Tehran- IRAF- UN Women announced in a newsletter published today (Sunday, February 22) that the Government of Japan has provided a new contribution of $826,666 to support vulnerable women in Afghanistan.
The primary objective of this assistance is to preserve human dignity, ensure security, and sustainably improve the livelihoods of women who have recently returned from neighboring countries to Afghanistan.
The funding will be spent under a joint program aimed at alleviating the suffering of women returning from neighboring countries, particularly Iran and Pakistan.
Establishing women-only safe spaces, providing livelihood assistance, and delivering protection and support services are among the key components of this initiative.
According to the international organization, activities will be concentrated in eastern and southern regions of Afghanistan.
Joint Support by Japan and the United Nations for Women and Children Returning to Afghanistan
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Women, and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees Affairs, the funding is part of a joint initiative titled “Support for Returned and Vulnerable Women.”
The program began in late 2025 and is scheduled to continue until the end of 2026.
Planned services under the project include vocational skills training to enhance women’s economic empowerment, counseling and psychosocial support services, distribution of cash and in-kind assistance to needy families, and the establishment and equipping of safe centers in the provinces of Nangarhar, Kunduz, Helmand, Kandahar, and Herat.
Economic Crisis and Domestic Violence: Major Challenges for Returning Women
The latest report by UNHCR indicates that since the beginning of 2026, more than 350,000 additional people have joined the ranks of returnees.
Among them, over 60 percent of returning women face severe economic poverty, domestic violence, and lack of access to basic health and medical services.
According to UN statistics, more than 2.5 million Afghan migrants returned from neighboring countries in 2025 alone.
The organization stated that women and children constitute 42 percent of all returnees.
In 2025, the Government of Japan allocated more than $5 million to programs related to Afghan returnees through the United Nations.
