Over 20,000 Afghan refugees returned within a week: UN

Kabul : Over 20,000 Afghan refugees have returned or have been deported from neighbouring Pakistan and Iran during the period of July 29 to August 4, the UN Migration Agency said on Tuesday.

A total of 19,513 Afghans have reportedly arrived in the country in this period from Iran, 5 per cent less than the previous week, reports Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, 954 Afghans have returned from Pakistan.

"This number marks a 700 per cent increase compared to the previous week (137)," the agency said.

The agency has provided post-arrival humanitarian assistance, including food and other essential items to the returnees.

More than 463,000 Afghan refugees have returned from the two countries since January 1.