Highlights
1,643 undocumented Afghans spontaneously returned or were deported from Pakistan between 1-7 January 2017, a 2% decrease from the previous week.
7,776 undocumented Afghans spontaneously returned or were deported from Iran between 1-7 January 2017, a minor increase from the previous week.
Since 1 January 2016, a total of 701,556 undocumented Afghans spontaneously returned or were deported from Pakistan (249,832) and Iran (451,734).
Returns from Pakistan
From 1-7 January 2017, a total of 1,643 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). This is a 2% total decrease from last week, with deportations decreasing by 50%. Of the total, 1,553 were spontaneous returnees in family groups and 90 were deported individuals. This brings the total number of undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan to 249,832 since 1 January 2016. It is projected that approximately 495,000 undocumented Afghans will return from Pakistan before the end of 2017.
During the reporting period, IOM assisted 1,490 (90%) undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan, including 100 single parent families, 70 special cases and 5 accompanied migrant children. The support provided includes meals and accommodation at IOM’s Transit Centers near the border, household supplies and other Non-Food 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.