Distribution of wheat and cash assistance has begun in Bamiyan province for 1,200 families recently returned (often forcibly deported) from neighboring countries, primarily Iran and Pakistan.
kabul 24: Local officials report that this initiative is part of a nationwide program targeting 50,000 returnee families. The aid aims to address immediate needs amid the challenges of reintegration.
Authorities have indicated that land distribution for permanent settlement will commence next year to facilitate long-term housing solutions.
Ziauddin Waqif, Head of Finance at the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, stated that future plans include continued wheat and cash distributions.
Simultaneously, efforts are underway to provide permanent shelters through land allocation. Committees have been formed to oversee this process and ensure organized implementation.In Bamiyan specifically, officials announced the upcoming construction of a second-grade township (or secondary town/settlement) on 10,000 jeribs (approximately 2,000 hectares) of land dedicated to resettling returnees.
Saifullah Aliyar, Head of Reintegration at the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriates in Bamiyan, explained that the Islamic Emirate leadership has proposed this 10,000-jerib site. Once procedures are finalized, development of the township will proceed to accommodate returning families.
Meanwhile, many deported migrants express gratitude for the emergency aid but highlight ongoing hardships. Lack of permanent housing and limited job opportunities remain major obstacles.
Allah Bakhsh, deported from Iran, said: “We are thankful for this assistance and request the Islamic Emirate to provide us with permanent shelter.”Mohammad Hussain, also returned from Iran, added: “We were expelled from Iran and have no home here.
Promises have been made, our details recorded—we hope shelter will be provided. In Afghanistan too, there are no jobs or work opportunities; our problems are immense.”According to local data, nearly 7,000 families have returned to Bamiyan over the past four-plus years. Securing permanent housing for them is a critical priority, as many arrive with few resources after prolonged displacement.
This support reflects broader national efforts to manage large-scale returns—driven by deportations from Iran and Pakistan—amid economic strains.
While short-term aid like wheat (typically 250 kg per family) and cash (around 5,000 Afghanis) provides relief, sustainable solutions such as land grants, township development, and job creation are essential to prevent prolonged vulnerability.
