Over 4,000 Afghan refugees deported from Iran and Pakistan in three days
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation reports that over the past three days, more than 4,233 Afghan refugees have been expelled from Iran and Pakistan.
In a statement released on Saturday, July 20, the ministry stated that from July 17 to July 19, over four thousand Afghan refugees were forcibly and voluntarily returned to the country through the Silk Bridge border in Nimroz province, Islam Qala in Herat province, and the Torkham crossing in Nangarhar province.
The statement added, “According to information from the border management offices of the mentioned provinces, 72 families, including 397 individuals, returned from the Torkham border, 61 families, including 332 individuals, from the Spin Boldak border in Pakistan, 1,307 individuals from the Islam Qala border in Herat province, and 2,197 individuals from Iran via the Silk Bridge in Nimroz province.”
This comes as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that from April to June of this year, 858,170 people have returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan.
In its quarterly report, the IOM stated that 56% of these Afghan returnees were forcibly expelled, 46% returned voluntarily, and 39% cited economic difficulties as their reason for returning from Iran.
The report also indicated that 74% of Afghans returned voluntarily and 19% due to insecurity and lack of personal safety from Pakistan.
During this period, 532,854 people also migrated to these countries.
Meanwhile, the recent mass return of Afghan refugees highlights the ongoing challenges faced by these individuals and the complex dynamics of forced and voluntary migration.
The data underscores the significant impact of economic hardship, insecurity, and international policies on migration patterns. Addressing these issues requires coordinated efforts from both national and international stakeholders to ensure the safety and well-being of returnees and to develop sustainable solutions for migration and repatriation.
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