(MENAFN) In just over a month, almost half a million Afghan migrants have been repatriated from Iran, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed to media on Monday. This surge precedes Tehran’s firm deadline requiring undocumented Afghan nationals to exit the country.

From June 1 through July 5, Iran saw the return of 449,218 Afghans, according to Zuhal Nabi, IOM’s communications associate based in Kabul.

This sharp increase follows a directive from Iranian officials demanding that an estimated 4 million undocumented Afghans leave Iran by July 6, warning of forced deportations for those who remain.

The large-scale returns have sparked alarm over the humanitarian consequences, as many returnees confront significant challenges and uncertainty upon reaching Afghanistan.

The influx places additional pressure on Afghanistan’s already fragile economy and its ongoing humanitarian crisis, with urgent needs continuing to mount.

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