Provide humanitarian WASH and Educational assistance to affected people in areas of high return in Nangarhar, Laghman, and Kabul provinces. ltpgtSince September 15, 2023, over 540,000 Afghans returned from Pakistan, mostly children and adolescents (62%), with 20% under 5 years old. About half are women. Vulnerable groups, including children, elderly, and people with disabilities, are at risk. Most returned to Afghanistan's Eastern, North-Eastern, Central, and Southern regions. Pakistan plans to expel 840,000 Afghan Citizen Card holders from April 15, 2024, with 65,310 already returned between April 14-20. Projections suggest over 187,000 may return by April's end, followed by 248,000 in May, and possibly 150,000 in June 2024.ltbrgtPer the MRAT assessment conducted in the eastern region led by OCHA, 60.5% of affected people do not have access sufficient drinking water. Moreover, 76.5% affected people reported that latrines are not safe for women. Furthermore, 89.6% people reported not having access to functional and accessible handwashing facility and soap.  ltbrgtThe IOM data pertaining to returnees reveals that 7,652 individuals resettled in the Bagrami district, with 35% of them being school-aged children. Additionally, 20,507 individuals resettled in the Kabul district, with the same proportion of school-aged children. EiE Needs Assessment conducted by OCHR in both districts, highlighted significant challenges with 86% of children lack adequate teaching and learning materials, while 45% lack safe spaces for learning. Furthermore, a key obstacle to the registration or enrollment of returnee students is the lack of awareness regarding available educational opportunities and resources.ltbrgtTo address the above-mentioned needs, the project is thus designed to provide emergency WASH and Education assistances for 61,025 returnees (17376women, 15787girls, 14196men, 13666boys) inclusive of persons with disabilities (15%) and women-headed HHs (25%) in in prioritized provinces. In addition, the ban on girls above six class has limited their access to education. ltbrgtTo meet the critical WASH needs of 53,025 returnees in Nangarhar and Laghman provinces. OCHR has proposed the repair and light rehabilitation of 16 existing water systems. It will reduce the burden on women and girls, who currently spend, on average more than 20 minutes one-way to reach a water point. In addition, OCHR will provide in-kind support to 380 most vulnerable HHs to repair their sanitation facilities(Latrines) to gain access to safe, gender-appropriate, and hygienic sanitation facilities. Moreover, 1010 hygiene and sanitation promotion sessions will focus on handwashing with soap at critical times will be conducted. Following the hygiene and sanitation sessions, 4820 family hygiene kits will be distributed to the most vulnerable affected HHs. ltbrgtTo address the mentioned Education needs 8000 individuals in Kabul province, OCHR has proposed to conduct 100 awareness sessions aimed at returnees, including children, to inform them about available educational opportunities and resources. Following this, OCHR will conduct comprehensive mapping exercises to identify communities and assess school capacities. OCHR will establish 06 Temporary learning spaces to ensure continuity of education in areas lacking proper infrastructure. Additionally, OCHR will equip 120 teachers (male 60 and female 60) and 2000 students (Boys 1000 and Girls 1000) with teaching and learning materials to facilitate effective learning environments. Furthermore, OCHR will repair and rehabilitate 06 affected public schools in targeted communities, selected based on needs assessments, to provide safe learning spaces and accommodate new returnees' school-aged children within the public-school settingltbrgtTo ensure Communication and Community engagement will provide regular awareness to the project beneficiaries using tools and guidelines the AAP-TWG has developed. OCHR has also mainstreamed GBV and PSEA in all the proposed interventions.ltbrgtlt/pgt