Highlights
850 undocumented Afghans returned from Pakistan
13,740 undocumented Afghans returned from Iran
94,957 total returns from Pakistan since 01 Jan 2017
393,824 total returns from Iran since 01 Jan 2017
488,781 total returns from Iran and Pakistan since 01 Jan 2017
92% of returnees from Pakistan assisted 5% of returnees from Iran assisted
157 Unaccompanied Migrant Children (UMC) from Iran among those assisted, 0 from Pakistan
129 Medical Cases (MC) from Iran among those assisted, 0 from Pakistan
Return from Pakistan
A total of 850 undocumented Afghans spontaneously returned or were deported from Pakistan through the Turkham (Nangarhar) and Spin Boldak (Kandahar) border crossings from Nov 12-18, according to the Border Monitoring Team of the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation (DoRR). Of the total returnees, 821 were spontaneous returnees and 29 were deported. This number marks a 1% increase compared to the previous week (844). The total number of undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan since 01 January 2017 is now 94,957. IOM provided post-arrival assistance to 92% of undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan (780 individuals), including 558 individuals in poor families and 214 individuals in single parent families. 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 488,000 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 than in previous year. 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.
