Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Affected By US Aid Suspension

The United Nations has announced that after the suspension of US financial aid, 1.2 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan will be affected.

The United Nations Population Fund has stated that to continue vital programs in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, more than $308 million is needed this year.

Some Turkish media outlets have reported: “According to the UN, around 1.7 million people in Pakistan, including 1.2 million Afghan refugees, will be directly affected by Trump’s decision and the consequent closure of over 60 US-funded health facilities.”

“With the suspension of US financial aid, the problems of refugees who have been in Pakistan for more than three years and have limited resources have worsened,” said Tahir Khan, a Pakistani journalist.

Meanwhile, some Afghan refugees in Pakistan have complained about the reduction of services provided by UN agencies, stating that this issue has created additional challenges for them.

“The services of the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration have been affected, which is a major problem for Afghan citizens,” said Fidauddin Noorzai, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan.

“The services that were being provided with US assistance in Pakistan have been stopped, and we are currently facing many difficulties,” said Murtaza, another Afghan refugee in Pakistan.

Afghan refugees in Pakistan have also complained about continued mistreatment by the Pakistani police.

According to reports, since September 15, 2023, more than 800,000 undocumented Afghan refugees have been deported from Pakistan.