Russia donates $2.6m to Afghan Children in Iran

The government of the Russian Federation has decided to donate 2.6 million US dollars to UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the implementation of the project ‘Social protection and services for Afghan children in the Islamic Republic of Iran, AVA Diplomatic reports.

The extra budgetary funding will support UNICEF’s national partners and institutions in Iran providing services to these children, the Russian Embassy in Tehran announced in a press release.

The signing ceremony of the Contribution Agreement between the Russian Federation and UNICEF was held in the Russian Embassy in Tehran in the presence of Levan Dzhagaryan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and UNICEF Representative to Iran, Ezio Gianni Murzi, as well as the UN Resident Coordinator, Gary Lewis, and a number of UN representatives, including UNHCR a key partner in this project.

‘In spite of existing financial and economic problems, the Russian government has found the opportunity to support the Afghan children in Iran. These means will contribute to the considerable efforts that the Iranian authorities are making to accommodate Afghan refugees and Children,’ Russian amabassodor said at the event.

“I would like to sincerely thank the Government of the Russian Federation for its very generous contribution,” said UNICEF Representative in Iran, “a contribution that will provide additional financial support to the already generous programmes run by the Iranian authorities for Afghan children.”

Iran has been a generous host for more than 2 million Afghan refugees for two decades. UNICEF Iran works with the Iranian government to improve Afghan children’s access to education and child protection services.