Highlights
923 undocumented Afghans returned from Pakistan
18,033 undocumented Afghans returned from Iran
92,300 total returns from Pakistan since 01 Jan 2017
349,610 total returns from Iran since 01 Jan 2017
88% of returnees from Pakistan (814 individuals) assisted
4% of returnees from Iran (749 individuals) assisted
159 Unaccompanied Migrant Children (UMC) from Iran among those assisted, 3 from Pakistan
32 Medical Cases (MC) from Iran among those assisted, 0 from Pakistan
Return from Pakistan
A total of 923 undocumented Afghans spontaneously returned or were de-ported from Pakistan through the Turkham (Nangarhar) and Spin Boldak
(Kandahar) border crossings from Oct 22—28, according to the Border Monitoring Team of the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation (DoRR).
Of the total returnees, 870 were spontaneous returnees and 53 were de-ported. This number marks a 12% decrease compared to the previous week
(1,059). The total number of undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan since 01 January 2017 is now 92,300. IOM provided post-arrival assistance to 88% of undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan (814 individuals), including 686 individuals in poor families, 99 individuals in single parent families, 26 special cases and 3 unaccompanied migrant children.
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 441,000 undocumented Afghans have returned due to diverse push factors, including deteriorating protection space in Pakistan and Iran. This figure represents a significantly lower rate of return (24%) 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.