Cash and Civil Support for Recently Deported Afghan Families

(October 6, 2025) – Herat Province, Afghanistan
Implemented by Saifrood Unity and Aid Organization (SUAO) in partnership with Rebuild Aid, Denmark

As part of their joint humanitarian mission to support vulnerable Afghan families affected by forced returns, Rebuild Aid and Saifrood Unity and Aid Organization (SUAO) successfully implemented the project “Cash and Civil Support for Recently Deported Afghan Families.”

Funded by the Danish Emergency Relief Fund (DERF), the initiative provided cash assistance and legal counseling to 280 recently deported Afghan families returning from the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan.
With an estimated average of seven members per household, the project directly benefited 1,960 individuals, addressing their most urgent financial and legal needs and helping them take first steps toward recovery and reintegration.

Background and Project Initiation

Following the recent surge in forced and voluntary deportations of Afghans from neighboring countries, Rebuild Aid and SUAO identified the need for a rapid humanitarian response focusing on the most vulnerable returnee families in western Afghanistan.

The project was launched after comprehensive field assessments carried out by SUAO teams at the Milak border in Nimroz Province, Islam Qala border, and Herat city. These assessments documented the dire living conditions of returnees—families who had spent years in displacement and returned to Afghanistan empty-handed, facing poverty, lack of shelter, and without legal identity documents.

SUAO’s field reports, photos, and data provided credible evidence that became the foundation for DERF’s project approval, allowing a rapid and targeted intervention to begin.

Administrative Process and Local Coordination

After receiving DERF’s approval, SUAO completed official registration in the Ministry of Economy’s online system and obtained all required legal permits to begin implementation.

Through close coordination with the Herat Department of Economy, the Governor’s Office, and Herat Municipality, implementation areas were selected and prioritized.
According to the Governor’s directive, 30 percent of the project was implemented in Karukh District and 70 percent within Herat city.

SUAO field teams were first deployed to Karukh District, where they worked closely with district authorities, security departments, village elders, and community leaders to identify and verify 84 eligible families. After final approval of the beneficiary list, cash distributions were carried out transparently in the presence of officials from the Department of Economy, district administration, and local elders.

Second Phase in Herat City

In the second phase, 196 returnee families from various neighborhoods of Herat city were surveyed, verified, and approved for support in collaboration with the Department of Economy, municipality representatives, and community leaders.

On Tuesday, 15 Mizan 1404 (October 6, 2025), these families received cash assistance alongside legal counseling sessions designed to help them apply for Afghan national identity documents (Tazkira).
Priority was given to women-headed households, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and families with children.

The process was conducted in a transparent, organized, and fully coordinated manner, reflecting the high level of professionalism of SUAO’s field staff and Rebuild Aid’s technical guidance.

Transparency, Oversight, and Local Endorsement

The project adhered to strict principles of accountability, transparency, and community participation.
All activities were monitored and endorsed by the Herat Department of Economy, Herat Municipality, Karukh District Administration, and community representatives.

In recognition of SUAO’s effective coordination and transparent approach, the District Governor of Karukh officially commended the project team and awarded an Appreciation Certificate to the SUAO field staff.

Social and Legal Impact

The “Cash and Civil Support for Recently Deported Afghan Families” project not only provided immediate financial relief to vulnerable returnee households but also empowered them legally through counseling and guidance on how to obtain Afghan identity documents.

Many returnee families—particularly women who had remained undocumented for years—were able to begin the process of securing their Afghan National ID (Tazkira), enabling them to access basic rights and services such as education, healthcare, and employment.
The project thus contributed to social inclusion, legal protection, and the restoration of dignity for hundreds of displaced Afghans.

Acknowledgment and Future Commitment

This initiative exemplifies the power of collaboration between local Afghan organizations and Danish humanitarian partners working together to address the complex consequences of forced migration.

Rebuild Aid and Saifrood Unity and Aid Organization (SUAO) extend their sincere gratitude to the Danish Emergency Relief Fund (DERF) for its financial support, and to the Herat provincial authorities, community elders, and partners for their constructive engagement throughout the project’s implementation.

Both organizations reaffirm their shared commitment to supporting homeless, undocumented, and vulnerable Afghan families, striving together to deliver humane, effective, and sustainable responses to future displacement crises in Afghanistan.

Prepared and Published by:
Rebuild Aid (Denmark) & Saifrood Unity and Aid Organization (SUAO – Afghanistan)
06 October 2025| Herat Province, Afghanistan
✉️ info@saifrood.org | 🌐 www.saifrood.org
✉️ info@rebuildaid.dk | 🌐 www.rebuildaid.dk