Meeting the Humanitarian Shelter and WASH needs of Individuals Affected by the Returnee Crisis in Kunar and Laghman provinces. ltpgtAfter more than 4 decades of conflict and instability, Afghanistan endures one of the worst humanitarian crises. Food insecurity, economic fragility, declining health outcomes and internal displacement are driving humanitarian needs, particularly impacting those most marginalized, like women/girls, youth, returnees, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).lt/pgtltpgt  ltbrgtAs per the HNRP, 6.6M people are in need of Emergency Shelter and Non-Food Items (ESNFI) and 21.1M in need of emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) support. lt/pgtltpgt  ltbrgtInternal displacement and increased Returnees from Pakistan and Iran are driving critical humanitarian issues. According to the HNRP 2024, 1 in 7 Afghans are internally displaced, with many lacking access to basic needs - a driving factor for movement. In October 2023, Pakistan announced plans to repatriate an estimated 1.7M undocumented Afghans. As of May 2024, 575,000 Afghans had returned from Pakistan since September 2023. According to IOM, 65% arrived via the Torkham crossing in the East region with the surrounding provinces Kunar and Laghman receiving the 3rd and 6th largest number of returnees respectively.  ltbrgtThese movements of people are straining communities that already have limited resources, especially basic services, and contribute to increased protection risks for vulnerable groups. IOM and UNHCR report that 95% of returnee are undocumented, creating further barriers to accessing basic needs and services (IOM/UNHCR), with many residing in informal settlements and camp settings. ltbrgtltbrgtlt/pgtltpgtIn response, Acted proposes to implement a 9-month, multisectoral project, covering WASH and Shelter activities in 2 provinces: Kunar (Nurgal district) and Laghman (Alingar and Qarghayi districts), integrating protection and gender actions. Acted will target 1,296 households (HHs) (9,072 individuals), focusing on Returnees and vulnerable host communities. In line with Cluster priorities and AHF Allocation Strategy, Acted will support cash for shelter repair and rehabilitation, cash-for-rent, Water and Sanitation (WASH) rehabilitation of latrines and handwashing stations, and the distribution of hygiene kits and hygiene promotion.lt/pgtltpgt  ltbrgtIn line with the ESNFI Cluster and CVWG guidelines, for cash-for-shelter rehabilitation and repair, up to $550 USD will be provided to 815 HHs for the necessary works and $165 USD provided to 481 HHs in urban areas for cash-for-rent for 3 months. Acted needs and market assessments will ensure that beneficiaries can access rented shelter and the resource for rehabilitation works, with oversight provided by Acted technical teams. ltbrgtltbrgtlt/pgtltpgtAs per Save the Children's report, in Kunar, Laghman and Nangahar, only 9% of assessed returnees received WASH support upon their return (December, 2023). Based on the records of facilities supporting returnees, diarrhoea cases have been reported and it is suggested that WASH programming would help mitigate such cases. Challenges in the East also include insufficient access to water (60.5%) due to water point distance, inadequate infrastructure, and high costs, exacerbated by drought (MRAT). ltspangtActed will support WASH rehabilitation activities to provide safe and appropriate access to sanitation facilities, including rehabilitation of latrines and handwashing facilities, benefiting 480HHs. lt/spangtltspangtActed will also distribute hygiene kits (as per WASH Cluster standards) accompanied by hygiene awareness messaging to the same 480 HHs both activities will be focused on areas of return. lt/spangtlt/pgtltpgtltspangtltbrgtlt/spangtlt/pgtltpgtCash assistance will be provided to HHs to purchase materials to rehabilitate shelter and WASH facilities will be rehabilitated through in-kind support. HHs will also receive cash assistance to access rented shelter. Combined with hygiene kit distribution and promotion, these actions will offer access to dignified shelter and WASH and prevent HHs’ utilization of negative coping strategies for returnees and vulnerable host communities in Nurgal, Alingar and Qarghayi districts of Kunar and Laghman provinces. lt/pgt