KABUL, Afghanistan — The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Sunday that nearly 100,000 Afghan migrants have returned from Pakistan since April 4, warning that humanitarian needs at the border are rising rapidly.
In a statement posted on X, the IOM said its teams, in collaboration with humanitarian partners, are working “around the clock” to deliver emergency aid and protection services to the returnees. However, the organization stressed that additional resources are urgently needed to meet the growing demand.
“We have recorded nearly 100,000 Afghan returnees from Pakistan since April 4,” the IOM said. “Needs are growing fast, and more resources are urgently needed.”
The announcement comes as Pakistan intensifies its deportation campaign against Afghan nationals, including many who have lived in the country for decades. Humanitarian agencies have warned that the influx of returnees is straining Afghanistan’s already fragile economy and overburdened humanitarian system.
Pakistan’s government recently set a June 30 deadline for all Afghan nationals holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards to voluntarily leave the country, with forced deportations expected to resume afterward.
Afghanistan, grappling with a deepening humanitarian crisis and economic collapse under Taliban rule, is struggling to absorb the sudden influx of vulnerable populations, many of whom arrive with few belongings and little means to rebuild their lives.
The IOM and other agencies have called for increased international support to scale up emergency assistance at major border crossings and in high-return areas inside Afghanistan.
