KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that more than 264,000 undocumented Afghan migrants crossed into Afghanistan from Iran over the past nine days, as deportations from Iran escalate dramatically.
In a post on X today, the organization stated that the number of returnees from Iran has reached 546,000 since June 1 and more than one million since the beginning of the year.
The IOM described the situation as dire, warning that it and its partners are currently able to assist only 10 percent of those returning. The agency appealed for urgent additional funding to provide aid to eligible returnees.
This surge follows a one-month deadline issued by the Iranian government on June 6, demanding that undocumented Afghans leave or face arrest. Deportations have since accelerated sharply, with tens of thousands reportedly being expelled each day, up from roughly 2,000 per day earlier in the year.
According to the UNHCR, daily crossings peaked at over 43,000 on July 1, compared to a previous average of 5,000. The number of total returns to Afghanistan has now surpassed 1.4 million in 2025, with the majority coming from Iran.
Humanitarian agencies warn that the massive influx is overwhelming Afghanistan’s already fragile aid infrastructure.
The Norwegian Refugee Council said the large-scale and rapid returns are placing immense pressure on local systems and noted that without international support, Afghanistan could see more than three million returnees by the end of the year.
The World Food Programme has appealed for $15 million to respond to the urgent food needs of returning migrants.
On the ground, border crossings such as Islam Qala in Herat and Nimroz in the southwest have become scenes of chaos. Witnesses describe families arriving in extreme heat, exhausted, dehydrated, and without shelter or direction.
Reports of forced removals, extortion, and unsafe transport conditions have emerged. At least 13 bodies have been discovered near border points, likely victims of dehydration and extreme temperatures, which have risen above 50°C.
The situation has been particularly dire for women and children. Thousands of unaccompanied women, including widows with children, have been returned to Afghanistan, where Taliban restrictions bar them from traveling or working without a male guardian. Many now find themselves stranded without shelter, income, or access to aid.
