Pakistan deported 1,854 undocumented Afghan migrants on Friday, December 15, as the repatriation of undocumented immigrants continues, according to figures by Pakistani media.
The expelled individuals included 523 men, 394 women, and 926 children, making up 235 families, all sent back to Afghanistan through the Spin Boldak and Torkham border crossings.
The caretaker government of Pakistan, as reported by local media outlets, declared that as of Friday a total of 433,518 Afghans have repatriated to Afghanistan.
However, contrasting figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) suggest a higher number, stating that over 480,000 undocumented Afghans have been deported from Pakistan to Afghanistan since early November.
Amidst these deportations, on Saturday, the Government of Canada pledged CAD 21 million to assist vulnerable Afghan populations seeking refuge in Central Asia and Pakistan.
The contribution, directed through the International Organization for Migration (IOM), is designed to address the protection, health, and integration needs of Afghan nationals in the region.
Highlighting the significance of the funding, the Canadian Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Ministry explained that it will support a three-year regional project, benefitting Afghan populations in Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
This humanitarian initiative reflects Canada’s commitment to addressing the evolving needs of Afghan refugees in the broader region.
