Highlights
2,032 undocumented Afghans spontaneously returned or were deported from Pakistan between 11-17 December 2016. IOM assisted 98% of returnees and deportees.
6,998 undocumented Afghans spontaneously returned or were deported from Iran from 11-17 December, a 27% decrease from the previous week.
244,125 undocumented Afghans have spontaneously returned or been deported from Pakistan and 427,510 from Iran since the beginning of the year.
Returns from Pakistan
From 11-17 December 2016, a total of 2,032 undocumented Afghans spontaneously returned or were deported from Pakistan through Torkham border (Nangarhar province) and Spin Boldak border (Kandahar province), according to the Border Monitoring Team of the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation (DoRR). Of the total, 1,989 were spontaneous returnees in family groups and 43 were deported individuals.
This brings the total number of Afghan undocumented returnees from Pakistan to 244,125 in 2016. The total this week represents a 20% decrease from last week, with deportations increasing by 72%. Based on the trends from the past week, it is projected that 18,560 more undocumented Afghans will return from Pakistan before the end of the year.
During the reporting period, IOM assisted 1,987 (98%) undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan, providing humanitarian support including meals and accommodation at the organization’s Transit Centers near the border, household supplies and other NonFood Items (NFIs) for families, special assistance to Persons with Specific Needs (PSNs), a one-month food ration from WFP, family and hygiene kits from UNICEF and dignity kits from UNFPA.
IOM has been conducting randomized surveys at Turkham border in order to better understand the livelihood conditions, socioeconomic and reintegration needs of returnees from Pakistan. The latest survey took place between 2-26 November and covered 137 households. The substantial majority of those surveyed (72%) plan to settle in Nangarhar province. The rest plan to settle in Kabul (17%), Laghman (4%) and Kunar (4%). The full survey results can be found on IOM Afghanistan’s website.