KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Around 88,308 Afghan migrants have returned from Iran over the past week, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as deportations from the country continue to accelerate.
In a report, IOM said the figure represents a 268% rise in returns over the past two weeks and warned that most returnees are arriving in extremely vulnerable conditions.
According to the report, 55% of the returnees were forcibly deported, while 64% were part of family units—a shift that shows families now make up the majority of those returning from Iran.
Due to limited resources, the agency said it was only able to assist 11% of those who returned. It is appealing for $15.9 million in emergency funding to meet urgent needs.
IOM raised concerns about rising hostility toward Afghans in Iran, especially following the recent conflict between Iran and Israel. “Rising concerns over national security and foreign influence have contributed to a more restrictive environment, potentially signaling a shift toward stricter migration policies in urban areas,” IOM said.
This wave of deportations follows the outbreak of war between Iran and Israel, after which Iranian authorities announced a renewed crackdown on Afghan migrants, including mass arrests and expulsions.
According to Taliban authorities, more than 60,000 Afghans have returned from Iran in just the past two days alone.
The mass returns come as Afghanistan grapples with a deepening humanitarian crisis. Nearly 23 million people—mostly women and children—depend on aid to survive.
