Iran spends over $10b annually to meet Afghan migrants’ needs: UN envoy
World to blame for failing to support Tehran
Iran’s UN envoy said over six million Afghan nationals currently live in Iran as the Islamic Republic spends over $10 billion annually to meet their needs amid the international community’s indifference to the issue.
Amir Saeid Iravani made the remarks in an address to a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday on the situation in Afghanistan.
He criticized the international community for failing to support Iran in the face of problems stemming from the crisis in neighboring Afghanistan.
Iravani said Iran has shouldered a disproportionate share of problems stemming from Afghanistan’s crisis, especially after the US withdrawal in 2021.
The Iranian diplomat said all efforts must focus on enabling refugees’ return by strengthening Afghanistan’s capacity to provide housing, jobs, and essential services.
“Iran is committed to actively supporting Afghanistan’s political, economic, and social reconstruction, working towards a brighter future for its people while promoting regional peace and security. Western countries, whose prolonged occupation and abrupt withdrawal plunged Afghanistan into crisis, have a moral, legal and political obligation to contribute meaningfully to the country’s rebuilding efforts,” he said.
Afghanistan is still reeling from a decades-long US occupation and its hasty withdrawal which resulted in the country’s lightning takeover by the Taliban.
“The irresponsible withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan in August 2021 has led to widespread migration from Afghanistan, placing significant pressure on Iran, which was already under unilateral and illegal sanctions”, Iravani said.
Iravani urged the international community to provide adequate and sustainable support to countries like Iran and Pakistan, which are facing ongoing challenges related to Afghanistan.
He highlighted a recent report from the UN Secretary-General regarding severe economic and humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan, noting that 23.7 million people, particularly women and children, still require urgent assistance.
“This situation poses a serious concern for neighboring countries directly affected by the humanitarian crisis,” the Iranian diplomat said.
He also expressed Iran’s deep concern about the ongoing drugs problem in Afghanistan, increasing threat posed by the terror group Daesh-Khorasan, restrictive measures against girls, women, and ethnic minorities in Afghanistan.
Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni recently said the country has no capacity to host more migrants.
Iran has recently begun to repatriate illegal Afghan refugees living in Iran.
The number of illegal immigrants in Iran is unofficially estimated to be around 10 million, with many seeking better economic opportunities or fleeing conflict in their home country, especially since the 2021 takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban.