Kabul:  The process of registration of returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has been completed in Kabul and Herat provinces under Sustainable Human Settlements in Urban Areas (SHURA), a programme of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA) run with the technical assistance of UN-Habitat with funding from the European Union and the government of Denmark.

A centralized database has been put together by SHURA which has resolved some of the most cumbersome and intricate problems pertaining to the transparent and efficient selection of beneficiaries. These initiatives are well in line with Presidential Decree 108, aimed at simplifying and accelerating the process of resettlement of returnees and IDPs.

After series of recent beneficiary registration and public balloting events, eligible beneficiaries received land allotment letters from H.E. Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, here at the Presidential Palace in Kabul on 30^th June 2021.  The First Vice President, H.E Amrullah Saleh as well as the Presidential Advisor on Refugee. Mr. Muftauddin Babakarkhil were also present at this auspicious occasion.

Representatives from UN-Habitat were also invited to witness the prestigious ceremony which serves as a landmark milestone for SHURA programme in ensuring sustainable resettlement of the returnees and refugees.

The event marked the official commencement of land distribution to beneficiary families by H. E Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan himself. Members of the 10 representative families that received these land allotment letters for Eltifat township included returnees, IDPs, martyrs, and vulnerable groups.

Mr. Babackerkhil, Presidential Advisor on Refugees stated that this key Programme is being supported by UN-Habitat in the light of PD-108. He also said that it is after 7 years that state land has been allotted to returnees and IDPs. He further added that the Beneficiary Selection Consortium has already been inaugurated in 3 provinces including Kabul, Nangarhar & Laghman, whereas the government plans to activate Beneficiary Consortiums in 8 other provinces where a high influx of refugees is being witnesses.

The Presidential advisor extended special thanks to both the First Vice President and the President for their personal effort and commitment for making this landmark ceremony take place at this critical time for resettlement, peace, and prosperity transition.

Taking to the rostrum, the First Vice President H.E Amrullah Saleh added that with the support of the Kabul governor and Kabul mayor, a number of small and large pieces of land inside Kabul city boundaries have also been identified for settlement of returnees and IDPs. The FVP also made a request to the president to allocate the identified lands for eligible beneficiaries under PD 108, particularly for the families of martyrs of the security forces who lost their lives protection of their homeland. H.E Amrullah also expressed, “In addition, we are committed to providing land for the martyrs of Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kapisa, and Panjshir at later stages”. He also requested MUDL to identify suitable lands for distribution to martyrs’ families across the country, and develop inclusive master plans for the townships where each individual street of the township should have the name of a martyr instead of street numbering.

At the pinnacle of the event, H. E President Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani emphasized a joint effort from all engaged ministries to work towards scaling up and completing this project in a successful manner. The event concluded with the distribution of the land allotment letters to each representative household by the President himself.