Overview

• On July 6, Iran began forcibly expelling undocumented Afghans under a national security directive, ending a voluntary departure window.
• More than 700,000 Afghans departed Iran voluntarily since March, including over 230,000 in June alone, according to the IOM.
• Arrivals at Islam Qala peaked at over 43,000 on July 1, overwhelming reception centers built for 7,000–10,000 people per day.
• Children account for around 25% of returnees, with many families arriving with minimal belongings and urgent needs for shelter, food and medical care.
• International agencies including UNHCR, IOM and UNICEF have declared an emergency response but can provide only partial aid due to funding shortfalls.