Highlights
6,551 undocumented Afghans returned from Pakistan
16,323 undocumented Afghans returned from Iran
39,577 total returns from Pakistan since 1 January 2017
104,166 total returns from Iran since 1 January 2017
89% of returnees from Pakistan (5,837 individuals) assisted
2% of returnees from Iran (334 individuals) assisted
Returns from Pakistan
A total of 6,551 undocumented Afghans spontaneously returned or were deported from Pakistan through Torkham (Nangarhar province) and Spin Boldak (Kandahar province) border crossings from 16-22 April, according to the Border Monitoring Team of the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation (DoRR). Of the total returnees, 6,465 were spontaneous returnees in family groups and 86 were deported individuals. This is a 22% decrease from the previous week, and brings the total number of undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan since 1 January 2017 to 39,577.
IOM provided post-arrival assistance to 89% of undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan (5,837 individuals), including 918 single parents and 7 special cases. The assistance provided includes meals, accommodation, Non-Food Items (NFIs), onward transportation and referral services, as well as support from partners (see Annex 1).
An IOM humanitarian border management expert conducted an assessment at Torkham border from 18-19 April.
Situation Overview
IOM is responding to a substantial increase in the return of undocumented Afghans from Pakistan and Iran. Since 1 January 2017, over 140,000 undocumented Afghans have returned due to diverse push factors, including deteriorating protection space in Pakistan. Most of those returning have lived outside of Afghanistan for decades, and will need support from the government and humanitarian actors both on arrival and as they seek to reintegrate.
As the rate of return is influenced by a number of political, security and other related factors both in Afghanistan and neighboring countries, another surge in returns could occur at any time. IOM estimates that approximately 600,000 undocumented Afghans could return from Pakistan and Iran in 2017, and is working to scale up its support to returnees in coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and other humanitarian partners.