One-off cash assistance scheme launched for Afghan refugees
An Afghan family, who were living as refugees in Pakistan, carries bundles of supplies at a humanitarian aid station in Torkham, Afghanistan. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, launched a one-time cash assistance scheme for some 1.3 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan affected by the devastating 2022 floods and the prevailing economic situation.
The assistance is being provided in collaboration with the government of Pakistan to reach refugee who is not eligible to access social safety nets available to Pakistani citizens.
The initiative is modelled on the government’s emergency cash programme for vulnerable Pakistani families affected by floods. Registered Afghan refugees will receive up to Rs25,000, adjusted depending on the family size. Minister for State and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), Muhammad Talha Mahmood, and Habib Bank Limited’s Chief Representative Mohammad Ali Syed launched the scheme on Thursday with UNHCR’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Indrika Ratwatte.
Representatives from different donor countries also attended the event. Muhammad Talha Mahmood, the Minister of SAFRON, welcomed ongoing international support for Afghan refugees and host communities in Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2023.