Kabul: ARCS Vice President Convened Meeting with 25 National Societies to Coordinate Humanitarian Support for Returnees

Monday, June 30, 2025

ARCS, led by Vice President Mr. Hafiz Azizur Rahman, hosted a high-level virtual meeting with representatives from the National Societies of 25 countries. The session was also attended by Mr. Ahmad Suleiman, Deputy Head of IFRC in Afghanistan. The discussion focused on mobilizing emergency assistance for repatriated refugees and communities affected by severe drought across the country.

During the meeting, Mr. Hafiz Azizur Rahman outlined the escalating humanitarian crisis, emphasizing the compound impact of prolonged drought, natural and man-made disasters, and a sudden influx of returnees from neighboring countries. He highlighted the existing challenges and limited resources, and appealed for immediate, coordinated international support.

Mr. Suleiman shared key takeaways from his recent mission to Herat Province, where he assessed the conditions and immediate needs of returning families. He identified key needs, existing challenges, and recommendations for coordinated response efforts, underscoring the importance of scaling up aid during this critical period.

In closing, representatives of National Societies pledged sustained support to ARCS to alleviate human suffering and address the ongoing crisis. They underscored that supporting returnees is a shared humanitarian responsibility among all National Societies.