Kabul – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) welcomes a EUR 3.5 million contribution from Italy, through its Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), to support post-arrival humanitarian assistance for returnees in Afghanistan.
 
This funding comes at a critical time as forced returns of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan continue to rise. Both countries have announced plans to resume mass forced returns in 2025, further intensifying humanitarian needs at Afghanistan’s borders and in key provinces experiencing high return rates.
 
The 12-month project will strengthen IOM’s efforts to address the humanitarian, protection, and health needs of undocumented returnees, aiming to reach over 25,000 people. Assistance will be provided through IOM’s eight reception and transit centres along the borders with Iran and Pakistan, as well as in areas of high return.
 
Additionally, the project will enhance data-driven interventions by supporting IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM). Through Flow Monitoring Surveys at formal and informal border crossings with Iran and Pakistan, data collected will guide tailored assistance provisions by IOM and the wider humanitarian community.
 
"IOM’s continued partnership with Italy has been crucial in reaching thousands of Afghan returnees and other vulnerable communities," said Miah Park, IOM Afghanistan Chief of Mission.
 
"With this renewed support, we can address urgent challenges at the borders and in areas of high return, where communities are struggling to absorb the growing numbers of returnees. This support will help us respond to these needs and mitigate factors that drive secondary displacement or migration as a negative coping mechanism,” Park added.
 
In 2024, IOM recorded over 1.3 million Afghan returnees, nearly 67 per cent of whom were forcibly returned. During the same period, IOM provided vital post-arrival humanitarian assistance to more than 429,000 vulnerable returnees through its reception and transit centres.
 
For more information, please contact:  
 
Avand Azeez Agha  
Media and Communications Officer  
Contact: Phone +93 79 410 0542 - Email avhasan@iom.int

This press release is also available in Dari and Pashto.