TEHRAN – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has provided safe and supportive spaces for Afghan children in the Torbat-e Jam Refugee Settlement in Khorasan Razavi Province to develop skills essential for dealing with life challenges.

UNICEF-supported Child-Friendly Space (CFS) in Iran is one of the three centers made possible by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations’ financial aid. 

CSFs provide children the chance to play and grow, the UNICEF website announced in a press release on April 30.

Play is not just a pastime for children; it is a fundamental part of their development. Through play, children and grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically. In the course of play, children build relationships and learn leadership skills, resilience, social navigation, and fear management. 

Play provides comfort and safety, helping children make sense of the world around them. It is also a platform for children to express and nurture their imagination and creativity. UNICEF Iran reached 5,354 vulnerable children, including Afghan refugees.

This is especially important for refugee children, who need a safe place to explore and develop life skills. These spaces also provide support in managing the anxiety and trauma that come with the displacement of children from their home countries.

Those enrolled in the Child-Friendly Space engaged in very various activities. In addition to playing with their peers, they learn poems, how to greet and converse with others, and basic hygiene practices like brushing their teeth. 

Zahra Mostafaee, a local NGO staff member working with the children in Torbat-e Jam, says, "In Torbat-e Jam settlement, 870 youngsters aged 3 to 12 are enrolled in this program. 

Here, they receive crucial life-skill training and psychological support. Initially, the parents were uncertain about the space. However, when they came here, brought their children with them, and saw the activities, they became quite welcoming and enthusiastic.”

Iran, UNICEF agree to draft MOU on refugees 

In December 2023, Ruhollah Qaderi, the National Organization for Migration’s director for international affairs, and Robin Nandy, the representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Iran, in a meeting, emphasized the need for drafting a memorandum of understanding on refugees.

Referring to the enhanced cooperation between UNICEF and the National Organization for Migration, Qaderi said, "We are talking about refugees as they are imposing heavy costs on the government and the people of Iran."

The Islamic Republic of Iran has practically no role in the crisis created in Afghanistan. However, displaced Afghans and refugees have kept flowing to the country, he added, IRNA reported.

Despite Iran’s generous hosting of the refugees, who are mainly Afghans, the international community has failed to support the country. They have paid for less than one percent of the costs of hosting refugees, which is not acceptable at all, Qaderi explained.

Nandy, for his part, appreciated Iran for supporting refugees residing in the country.

Confirming that the amount of foreign aid is not proportionate to hosting costs and highlighting the need to depoliticize humanitarian issues, particularly children in a polarized world, Nandy said UNICEF's support will be tailored to the needs of Iran.

Protection for refugee children is encouraging

In May 2023, Nandy said the country’s comprehensive program for the protection of refugee children is encouraging.

Making investments in programs and services to better care for and support children affected by migration and asylum will reduce costs in the future, he added.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Ali Kazemi, the deputy justice minister, IRNA reported.

Emphasizing the important role of non-governmental organizations in supporting refugee and immigrant children and teenagers, Nandy expressed hope that holding educational workshops will lead to the promotion of children's rights and justice for children.

Kazemi, for his part, said some 63 percent of Afghan refugees have selected Iran as their destination and the government does its best to settle the refugees with dignity.

The situation of non-Iranian children and adolescents and their families who have sought refuge in the Islamic Republic of Iran due to migration or injuries caused by unforeseen events and natural disasters or issues such as war has always been of concern to Iran, IRNA quoted Kazemi as saying.

“It is expected that international organizations and other countries will also provide more assistance in this field in line with their humanitarian responsibilities and duties arising from human rights conventions,” he added.

The Law on the protection of children and adolescents considers protection as the right of all people under the age of 18 who live within the borders of the Islamic Republic, Kazemi highlighted.

“According to the law, equal and non-discriminatory treatment in terms of color, race, religion, language, health, gender, ethnicity, nationality, and family status is the right of every child living in Iran.

The indisputable principle that governs all measures related to children and various legal protections have been considered for non-Iranian children and adolescents.”

The Islamic Republic of Iran is host to one of the largest and most protracted refugee populations in the world, the majority of whom are Afghan refugees.

The country is home to over 800,000 registered refugees and some 2.6 million undocumented Afghans. Today, more than 500,000 Afghan children- including undocumented Afghans and those who have newly arrived in Iran following the Taliban-takeover-are benefitting from Iran’s inclusive education policies, one of the most progressive in the world.

Many of the refugees living in Iran are second and third-generation, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 

Iran spent more than $352 million in the current school year, started on September 23, 2023, on the education of Afghan students.

Over 670,000 students of Afghan nationals are studying in Iran, and the cost of educating these students is more than $352 million, IRNA reported.

In the current school year, $17 million of international aid and $335.631 million from internal sources have been spent on the education of Afghan nationals.

However, international organizations have paid less than 3.9 percent of the cost of education for Afghan students in Iran in the last two years.

MT/MG