Highlights
- 2,075 undocumented Afghans returned from Pakistan
- 9,614 undocumented Afghans returned from Iran
- 71,613 total returns from Pakistan since 01 January 2017 171,269 total returns from Iran since 01 January 2017
- 87% of returnees from Pakistan (1,812 individuals) assisted
- 5% of returnees from Iran (452 individuals) assisted
Return from Pakistan
A total of 2,075 undocumented Afghans spontaneously returned or were deported from Pakistan through the Turkham border (Nangarhar province) and Spin Boldak (Kandahar province) border crossings from July 2-8, according to the Border Monitoring Team of the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation (DoRR).
Of the total returnees, 1,985 were spontaneous returnees in family groups and 90 were deported individuals. This number is almost eight times higher than in the previous week and marks an anticipated increase after Eid-ua Fitr. The total number of undocumented Afghans returnees from Pakistan since 01 January 2017 is now 71,613.
IOM provided post-arrival assistance to 87% of undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan (1,812 individuals), including 147 single parents and 13 special cases. This sharp increase in assistance compared to 47% the previous week was anticipated and caused by the reopening of the IOM transit center during the past week. The assistance provided includes meals, accommodation, basic medical screening, Non-Food Items (NFIs), onward transportation cash grants and referral services, as well as support from partners (see Annex 1) .
Situation Overview
IOM is responding to a substantial increase in the return of undocumented Afghans from Pakistan and Iran. Since 01 January 2017, over 231,000 undocumented Afghans have returned due to diverse push factors, including deteriorating protection space in Pakistan. This figure represents a significantly higher rate of return than in previous years. 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.