The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that in the first half of the current calendar year, approximately 710,000 Afghan migrants have returned from Iran, either voluntarily or involuntarily.
The organization emphasized in its report published on Wednesday that the number of migrant returns during a similar period has increased by 16% compared to the previous year.
According to the UNHCR, 310,000 are migrants detained in Iran without legal residence and travel permits. They have been deported due to “law violations,” and 400,000 have returned voluntarily.
The UNHCR has highlighted that Afghan migrants in Iran face various challenges, including physical violence, lack of access to food, water, adequate sanitation facilities, healthcare, verbal abuse, prison overcrowding, family separation, and loss of property and money.
According to the report, Iranian authorities have not commented on the violation of the human rights of Afghan migrants so far.
The organization added that Afghan migrants had entered Iran due to a lack of access to healthcare facilities, job opportunities, high living costs, passport or visa extensions for return, fear of detention and deportation and extortion by the police or government officials.
Meanwhile, the UN reports that from mid-May to the end of June, approximately 1,200 to 1,500 Afghan citizens without documentation have entered Iran.
This is happening while, according to reports, around five million Afghan citizens live in Iran.
Many Afghan nationals seek refuge in neighbouring countries such as Iran and Pakistan because of the prevailing prosecution, threat to their safety, security concerns, and limited job opportunities in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover.
