More than 96,000 people left Afghanistan for Iran and Pakistan in just one week, according to a new report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The report, released on Sunday, covers the period from August 25 to August 31.
During that time, 67,944 people crossed into Iran, while 28,578 traveled to Pakistan, the report said. Simultaneously, 63,540 individuals returned to Afghanistan from both countries.
The IOM noted that the number of people leaving Afghanistan exceeded those returning by 34 percent. The organization partly attributed this discrepancy to the observance of the religious holiday of Arbaeen in Iran, which likely slowed the return of some Afghan migrants.
Both outbound and inbound migration increased by 14 percent compared to the previous week, according to the report. The number of people heading to Iran saw a significant jump of 59 percent, making up 70 percent of those who left Afghanistan during this period.
The data reflects a continued trend of migration as Afghans seek safety and economic opportunities in neighboring countries amid ongoing instability at home.
