Fleeing to Iran: 17 Afghans died of thirst

It has been reported that 17 Afghans who attempted to cross into Iran through illegal routes, including women and eight individuals under the age of 18, died as a result of severe thirst. 

 

According to the Haalvsh human rights organization, they died on Thursday in the Mak-Sukhteh area of the Rotak border region near the city of Saravan in Iran. The group ran out of water during the journey.

 

Among the deceased are five members of one family from Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan. They consisted of a 45-year-old mother and her four daughters aged 14, 16, 18, and 22. It is said that among the deceased there are also nearly six children under the age of 14.

 

Witnesses and relatives of the deceased have stated that there was very little water along the route. According to them, people died of severe thirst because they could not find water.

 

In a video distributed by Haalvsh, a group of people can be seen digging several graves in an unidentified area. The organization stated that these graves were dug for Afghans who tried to reach Iran and died along the way.

 

The family from Baghlan has relatives living in Saravan. According to their information, the funeral ceremony for the five deceased is expected to be held on Sunday.

 

Haalvsh noted that it could not independently confirm the information regarding the total number of deceased.

 

Amu TV notes that this is not the first case of Afghans dying on the way to Iran. In early August, Hayatullah and 18 others who attempted to cross into Iran through the scorching Margow desert in Nimroz province in southwestern Afghanistan went missing. It was later reported that they died as a result of extreme heat and lack of water.

 

According to the report, many Afghans are leaving the country due to problems related to poverty, unemployment, and security. Some of them are forced to pass through areas with harsh natural conditions using the services of smugglers to reach Iran.