Afghanistan: returns update

Briefing notes

Afghanistan: returns update

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

5 July 2002

A brief update on Afghan returns: The number of refugees returning home to Afghanistan appears to be climbing again, with a total of 44,600 returning during the first four days of July. This represents an average of 11,150 per day, up from the June daily average of 9,700. However, numbers are still not up to the May return numbers of 13,300 per day. In all, 1,167,000 Afghans have returned home with UNHCR assistance since the beginning of March. Of these, 1,068,000 have returned from Pakistan and 90,000 from Iran. UNHCR expects up to 2 million Afghans will return by the end of this year.