A 50 percent drop in financial assistance provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to Afghan refugees has affected their interest to return home from Pakistan, a migration official at the Torkham crossing told TOLOnews. 

The official said that over 14,000 refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had registered their names to return home, but now they are showing less interest to continue the process. 

“The refugees are showing less interest to return home because the financial assistance has decreased. The reason is that the Afghan refugees have jobs there [in Pakistan] where they can afford their daily needs,” said Istiqlal Jalalzai, a migration official of the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation Affairs at Torkham crossing. 

A number of return refugees meanwhile said after living for many years in Pakistan, they were forced to return to Afghanistan and start a new life here.

“Refugees were harassed, insulted and were told that when will you return back to your home,” Rafiullah, a return refugee said.

Another return refugee, Ahmad Faisal, said lack of residence and job is a serious challenge for them. 

“Last year, the financial assistance was $400 USD for every refugee, but now it is decreased. The assistance should increase in order to encourage refugees to return home,” Faisal said.

“We don’t have a shelter. Where should we find a shelter and how can we find a job,” another return refugee, Daud, said.
 
The UNHCR last year paid $400 USD to every refugee who wanted to return home voluntarily. The process encouraged at least 700,000 refugees to return to Afghanistan. However, the amount has decreased to $200 USD this year, officials said.