Pakistan — Flow Monitoring of Afghan Returnees — Bi-Weekly Report (1 – 15 September 2024)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Pakistan’s FM provides key insights into the overall migration trends of Afghan nationals returning to Afghanistan, as well as an overview of the profiles of Afghan returnees and their mobility patterns, exploring routes, vulnerabilities, demographics and social characteristics. Between 1 and 15 September, DTM border monitors (BMs) interviewed 490 heads of households through a Flow Monitoring Registry (FMR) form, while 12,032 Afghan returnees were identified through five border crossing points.

HIGHLIGHTS

• During this reporting period, DTM teams have observed a decrease of 17 per cent in returns compared to the last two weeks of August 2024.
• Cumulatively, from 15 September 2023, 724,160 individuals have returned to Afghanistan. Thirty-two per cent (233,269 individuals) of this total have returned since 1 January 2024.
• Most of the returnees are undocumented Afghans (84%), followed by PoR holders (14%) and ACC holders (2%).
• Compared to previous reporting periods, fewer Afghans cited fear of arrest (58%) as a reason for returning, while the inability to pay rent (44%) and utilities (37%) has grown in significance.