ISLAMABAD: The France government has announced EUR 3 million worth of financial aid to support the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR for its critical programmes for the Islamic Republics of Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
According to a statement on Monday, the funds would allow the organization to boost the provision of lifesaving support and protection for some of the most vulnerable refugees and their local host communities.
In Pakistan, UNHCR will be able to improve access to public health care in host communities in 2023 with the help of EUR 2 million. It will also be able to expand skills and vocational training.
The French government’s assistance will put a special emphasis on assisting women and young girls. This investment is in addition to a second donation of EUR 2 million for 2022 initiatives, which has resulted in extending women’s skill training and improving girls’ access to education. France has committed EUR 1 million to UNHCR’s activities in Iran for 2023. This contribution will aid in bolstering ongoing initiatives to offer Afghans and host communities access to vital services, including healthcare, education, and security. This additional financing comes from a similar EUR 1 million gift for UNHCR Iran in 2022.
The UNHCR was extremely grateful to France for its steadfast assistance in resolving one of the most protracted refugee crises in history. This donation shows France’s understanding of the urgent need to lessen the suffering of the millions of Afghans who have been displaced and the significance of global cooperation and responsibility-sharing in resolving their situation. Nicolas Roche, the French ambassador to Iran, stated that “by funding UNHCR’s operations in Iran for the second year in a row, we are determined to support the Afghan people who have been forced out of their country due to developments in Afghanistan in 2021. We must also help strengthen the local Iranian population’s resilience.
France, one of the top ten donors to the UNHCR, is a dedicated partner who offers consistent and adaptable contributions. About 20% of France’s yearly donation was set aside in 2022, giving UNHCR crucial flexibility to deal with unanticipated disasters or underfunded circumstances. More than 9.2 million Afghans live in Iran and Pakistan, including 2.3 million registered refugees. Many fled their nation because of unrest, instability, and extreme poverty.
Iran and Pakistan have shown a commitment to sustaining the values of hospitality and protection through their refugee-inclusive policies, despite having limited resources and struggling economies. To help Afghanistan’s neighbours continue and broaden their progressive policies, the international community must unite behind and support them.
Nicolas Galey, the French ambassador to Pakistan, said, “Our support is a show of solidarity and appreciation for the forty years of hospitality extended by the governments and people of Pakistan for Afghan refugees.” The funding demonstrates France’s dedication to increasing collaboration and solidarity with refugees and impacted host countries. France served as co-convener of the December Global Refugee Forum.”
“Regions hosting Afghan refugees must not be forgotten and continue to see the world’s contribution towards local basic services,” he continued.
With the cooperation of the French government, the financing will help ensure that UNHCR can continue its commitment to aiding Afghanistan’s neighbouring nations and offering safety to millions of Afghan children, women, and men in the years to come. —APP
