Afghanistan Peace CampaignEgeland called on Afghan authorities to allocate more funding to returnees and stressed that the return of migrants should be voluntary, well-prepared and safe.
Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), has said that engagement and investment in Afghanistan are essential to addressing the country’s humanitarian situation.
In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, Egeland called on the international community to resume direct engagement with Afghan authorities by sending its diplomats back to Afghanistan.
The Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council said: “I urge countries to return to Afghanistan with their diplomats and engage directly with Afghan authorities. I do this myself. I met with Afghan authorities in Kabul and Kandahar, and we discussed all issues, including refugees, internally displaced people and girls’ education. This situation can only be addressed through engagement and investment.”
Referring to the return of nearly six million Afghans from Iran and Pakistan over the past three years, Egeland described it as one of the largest return movements in the world and said these people need greater attention and assistance.
Egeland called on Afghan authorities to allocate more funding to returnees and stressed that the return of migrants should be voluntary, well-prepared and safe.
Egeland said: “One group facing enormous challenges, but receiving little global attention, is the six million people who have returned from Iran and Pakistan over the past three years and their needs. These numbers are significant by global standards. This is one of the largest return movements in the world, and therefore requires greater attention and assistance.”
The NRC Secretary General also expressed concern over the significant decline in international aid to Afghanistan. He said humanitarian assistance, which amounted to nearly $3.5 billion in 2022 and 2023, could fall to only around $500 million this year.
According to Egeland, the United States, which was Afghanistan’s largest donor until 2024, has now stopped its assistance, while European countries have also reduced their support.
Egeland said: “This means there is now a very large gap, part of which could perhaps be filled by domestic resources. Afghanistan has capable businesspeople involved in the mining sector who can export. Afghanistan can do much more for its most vulnerable people, and the international community, which was present here for years and carried out major development programs, should not forget those same civilians.”
Egeland also said that despite reduced financial resources, the Norwegian Refugee Council continues to provide assistance in various sectors.
He added that the number of NRC employees in Afghanistan has fallen from nearly 800 to 350, but the number of people benefiting from the organization’s services has not decreased.
Expressing optimism about Afghanistan’s future, Egeland said cooperation between the international community and Afghan authorities remains essential to improving the lives of millions of Afghans.