In June 2017, UNHCR facilitated the return to Afghanistan of a total of 2,207 Afghan refugees, including 2,161 from Pakistan, 27 from Iran and 19 from other countries. This figure is 89% lower than the total number of returnees in May, largely due to the Ramadan period, during which refugees are generally less inclined to return. The UNHCR facilitated return programme was temporarily suspended from 25-27 June 2017 due to Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. Returns are expected to increase in the month of July and onward.
Between January and June 2017, a total of 33,733 Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan under UNHCR’s facilitated repatriation program, with the majority from Pakistan (33,325) followed by a smaller number from Iran (319) and other countries (89). This is higher (332%) in comparison to the 7,812 Afghans who returned during the same period in 2016, when the protection environment and asylum conditions in Pakistan were more favourable.
