Andrika Rathwate, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan, stated that in 2025 the organization spent approximately $2.5 billion (around 164 billion Afghanis) addressing the needs of Afghan refugees.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said in a statement that Andrika Rathwate, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan, shared the $2.5 billion aid figure during a meeting with Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s minister for refugees.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed providing assistance to returning Afghan refugees and addressing obstacles in the delivery of aid.
According to the Taliban’s statement quoting Rathwate, Afghanistan’s population has increased by roughly 10 percent in a short period due to the large-scale return of refugees. She added that the “efforts” of the Taliban and the United Nations have helped prevent a humanitarian crisis.
The deputy head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also presented proposals for transferring UN humanitarian aid from Pakistan to Afghanistan to the Taliban minister. Officials from both Afghanistan and Pakistan have not clarified whether the aid has been permitted to enter the country.
Rathwate emphasized broad cooperation and coordination with Taliban agencies concerning refugees and internally displaced persons, noting that the UN will work with the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees next year to assess the needs of returnees.
Abdul Kabir expressed appreciation for the UN’s assistance to the Afghan people and said the Taliban has prepared emergency winter aid programs for returnees, to be implemented across the country.
He added that in each province, thousands of families will receive both food supplies and cash assistance.
The Taliban reported that 2.8 million Afghan refugees returned to the country in 2025.
