If we juxtapose the number of migrants who voluntarily returned in the period 2010-2013
under the IOM program and the number of apprehensions during the same period122, then the
outcome looks as follows:
Table. 22 Rate of Voluntary Returns among the Top Nationalities Apprehended 2010-2013
2013
2012
2011
2010
Albania
15389
0%
10602
0%
11733
0%
50175
0%
Syria
8517
0%
7927
0.05%
1522
0%
851
2%
Afghanist 6412
an
11%
16584
6.9%
28528
0.7%
28299
0.4%
Pakistan 3982
124%
11136
34%
19975
1%
8830
1%
Banglade 1524
sh
94%
7863
11%
5416
0.9%
3264
0.5%
Somalia
1004
0%
1765
0%
2238
0%
6525
0%
Eritrea
726
0.1%
923
0%
1172
0%
1628
0%
Iraq
700
44%
2212
7%
2863
3%
4968
0.6%
Georgia
568
71%
793
6%
879
0%
1456
0%
Palestine 469
0%
1718
0%
2065
0%
7561
0%
Algeria
443
0.4%
4606
0.04%
5398
0.03%
7336
0%
Morocco 442
55%
2207
13%
3405
1%
1645
0.3%
Congo
4%
631
1%
1855
0.05%
90
0%
72
Source: www.astynomia.gr and data provided by IOM, 2 June 2014
The figures of 2012-2013 show that voluntary returns were particularly attractive for citizens of
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Georgia and Morocco. In 2013, voluntary returns corresponded to more
than half of the annual apprehensions among those nationalities. The case of Pakistan is of
special interest here. In 2013 for example, the overall number of Pakistanis who participated in
voluntary return programs was higher than the total number of apprehensions, though it should
be pointed out that those returned were not necessarily apprehended in the same year. Albania
122
The annual number of apprehensions includes both newcomers and migrants residing irregularly in the
country.
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