Latest IOM figures for internal returns

As the number of refugees repatriating from Pakistan and Iran continues, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) returning to their homes since the beginning of the year has surpassed 218,000, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). "We have returned 218,286 people to 25 of the 32 provinces," IOM spokeswoman, Niurka Pineiro told IRIN on Wednesday from the Swiss city of Geneva. "While we have returned a few people to the south, our primary emphasis is on the north, central and west of the country," she explained. According to IOM, there is more movement in and around the western city of Herat and the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif, while movement in and around the Afghan capital remains small. Despite large numbers of registered IDPs in Kabul, relatively few people are returning home. "We don't have a sure reason, but we feel the IDPs that are in Kabul are there to stay," Pineiro said. She noted, however, after a lull in IDP movement, returns from the capital had restarted, with over 1,300 people joining IOM convoys in the past 10 days. Regarding assistance, since IOM began returning IDPs last year, the agency had been providing reintegration kits, and to those who were farmers, also agricultural kits. However, as a result of a major funding crisis and a decision in late April designating UNHCR as the sector lead for returnees, those kits were now being provided by the refugee agency, while wheat allotments were being provided by the World Food Programme (WFP). Highlighting the current effort, Pineiro said returning people to places cleared of mines, as well as the sustainability of the returns were the main challenges facing IOM at the moment. At current funding levels, IOM hopes to assist 100,000 people return by the end of September or roughly 25 percent of the remaining 410,000 displaced persons remaining in the north, west and central regions of the country, she added.