Highlights
367 undocumented Afghans returned from Pakistan
7,857 undocumented Afghans returned from Iran
84,151 total returns from Pakistan since 01 Jan 2017
244,999 total returns from Iran since 01 Jan 2017
84% of returnees from Pakistan (307 individuals) assisted
5% of returnees from Iran (413 individuals) assisted
27 unaccompanied migrant children (UAM) from Iran
18 Medical Cases (MC) from Iran
Situation Overview
IOM is responding to a substantial increase in the return of undocumented Afghans from Pakistan and Iran. Since 01 January 2017, over 329,000 undocumented Afghans have returned due to diverse push factors, including deteriorating protection space in Pakistan and Iran. 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 500,000 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