Over 492,000 Afghans forcibly deported from Iran in 2026: UNHCR — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): More than 581,000 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Iran since thebeginning of this year until October 3, including more than 492,000 who were forcibly deported, the United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says. In its latest report, published on October 8, the agency said a total of 581,600 Afghans had returned from Iran between January 1 and October 3, 2026. Of these, 492,300, or 85 percent, were forcibly deported. According to the report, 475,400 of the returnees arrived in Afghanistan after February 28 this year, including 398,100who were forcibly deported. The agency added that more than 1.9 million Afghans returned to or were deported from Iran in 2025, includingapproximately 1,261,600 who were forcibly removed. The UNHCR said the rising number of returnees had placed increased pressure on basic services, housing and livelihoodopportunities in Afghanistan, while creating additional challenges for host communities. The report said that among Afghans who returned from Iran since the beginning of 2025, 39 percent were women andchildren, while 27 percent were children. According to the agency’s findings, 67 percent of the heads of returning households had no formal education, while 50percent lacked job skills. The UNHCR also reported that, since the beginning of this year, 52 percent of returnees had entered Afghanistan throughthe Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province, while the…