The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has revealed alarming figures, indicating that nearly eight million Afghans have fled their homeland since 2020. Of these, an overwhelming 85 percent have sought refuge in neighboring countries, predominantly Iran. Additionally, close to one million have sought asylum in Europe, underscoring the widespread impact of this humanitarian crisis.
The IOM report underscores that approximately 70 percent of Afghans migrating to Iran cite the lack of employment opportunities as the primary motive for their departure. Despite the significant outflow, the number of returnees from Iran remains notably high. In 2023, the IOM documented nearly one million returns, with a startling 70 percent of these individuals being undocumented and 60 percent forcibly repatriated.
Between January 2023 and May 2024, the IOM provided post-arrival assistance to 805,825 returning Afghan migrants, reflecting the ongoing complexities of this migration crisis. The World Bank, as referenced in the report, has highlighted the severe economic downturn and rising poverty levels in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in August 2021.
Compounding these challenges, both Iran and Pakistan have intensified their efforts to expel Afghan refugees. The United Nations reports that Pakistan has deported over half a million refugees since November last year. Furthermore, there has been a marked increase in reports of mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Iran over the past fortnight.
