Resilient Afghan Refugees Brave Ongoing Migration Crisis, Returns from Iran Soar

Over 700 Afghan refugees have made the journey back to their homeland from Iran, according to the Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations of Afghanistan. The refugees arrived in Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province. Out of the 774 returnees, 622 people have sought assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) office. It is unclear whether these individuals returned voluntarily or were deported by the Iranian authorities.

This recent influx of returning refugees follows previous reports that approximately 2,589 Afghan refugees had already returned from Iran to Afghanistan. The ongoing migration crisis in the region has been exacerbated by the severe humanitarian crisis and escalating poverty levels in Afghanistan. Afghan migrants in Pakistan and Iran have faced detention, deportation, and mistreatment due to a lack of legal residency documents.

Many Afghan migrants have sought migration due to security threats, prosecution, a lack of job opportunities, and the dire economic situation in Afghanistan. Despite the challenges they will face upon their return, the decision to come back home highlights the resilience and hope of the Afghan people in the face of adversity.