31/08/2026
“When I returned to Afghanistan, I only had 100 Pakistani rupees with me,” said Zia ur Rahman, a 30-year-old returnee from Pakistan.
Originally from Kunar province, Zia ur Rahman was born and raised in Pakistan, where he worked as a daily wage labourer, earning around 600 Pakistani rupees (around 2 USD) a day. With five children and seven family members to support, his income was barely enough to meet their basic needs, and he could not afford to send his children to school.
After returning voluntarily to Afghanistan, Zia ur Rahman and his family settled temporarily along a riverside in Nangarhar, where they are currently living in a tent because they cannot afford rising rental costs.
UNHCR recently provided Zia ur Rahman with cash assistance, supported by Islamic Relief USA, helping him address some of his family’s most immediate needs.
“I am very happy with the assistance we received today. I will use some of the money to buy food and try to rent a house for the short term while I look for a job,” he said. “I am thankful to Islamic Relief USA for supporting me during these difficult times.”
Zia ur Rahman hopes to eventually return to his home province of Kunar, find work and rebuild a more stable life for his family.
UNHCR continues to support Afghan returnees with flexible cash assistance, helping families meet their most urgent needs as they work towards rebuilding their lives and reintegrating into their communities.
