Highlights
1,059 undocumented Afghans returned from Pakistan
15,808 undocumented Afghans returned from Iran
91,003 total returns from Pakistan since 01 Jan 2017
317,004 total returns from Iran since 01 Jan 2017
85% of returnees from Pakistan (1,009 individuals) assisted
6% of returnees from Iran (799 individuals) assisted
215 Unaccompanied Migrant Children (UAM) from Iran among those assisted, 0 from Pakistan
37 Medical Cases (MC) from Iran among those assisted, 0 from Pakistan
Return from Pakistan
A total of 1,059 undocumented Afghans spontaneously returned or were deported from Pakistan through the Turkham (Nangarhar) and Spin Boldak (Kandahar) border crossings from Oct 15—21, according to the Border Monitoring Team of the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation (DoRR). Of the total returnees, 951 were spontaneous returnees and 108 were deported. This number marks a 4% decrease compared to the previous week (1,106). The total number of undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan since 01 January 2017 is now 91,003. IOM provided post-arrival assistance to 85% of undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan (901 individuals), including 765 individuals in poor families, 122 individuals in single parent families, and 13 special cases. 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.
Situation Overview
IOM is responding to a substantial increase in the return of undocumented Afghans from Pakistan and Iran. Since 01 January 2017, over 408,000 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 of Afghanistan and other humanitarian partners.