The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), expressing concern following the deaths of five Afghan nationals along a smuggling route in Nimroz province, said that no one should have to risk their life through dangerous and irregular journeys in search of safety and better opportunities.
The agency expressed sorrow over the incident and stated that search operations are still underway to locate 14 other Afghan nationals who went missing in the same incident. According to the organization, the fate of these individuals remains unknown, and efforts to find them are continuing.
In a statement, UNHCR emphasized that the incident once again highlights the heavy human cost of dangerous and irregular migration routes. The agency added that greater support and more opportunities must be provided to people so that they are not forced to risk their lives on such journeys in pursuit of a better future.
The organization also said that, together with its partner agencies, it is present on the ground and working closely with affected families to address their needs and provide necessary assistance.
The statement came after the bodies of five Afghan nationals were discovered in the desert areas of Chahar Burjak district in Nimroz province. Reports indicate that the group had departed approximately eight days earlier from the city of Zaranj toward the Iranian border in a vehicle carrying between 19 and 21 passengers. However, they encountered a sandstorm, extreme heat, and vehicle failure in the Margo Desert.
Gul Mohammad Qudrat, spokesperson for the Taliban’s provincial police command in Nimroz, confirmed the incident and said that the passengers became stranded in the desert due to harsh weather and environmental conditions. He added that some of them died from dehydration and the difficult conditions of the journey.
Local sources also reported that the vehicle carrying the passengers had become stuck several times among the sand dunes. Despite ongoing search efforts, only the bodies of five people have so far been recovered, while the fate of the remaining 14 passengers remains uncertain.
According to local sources, some of the victims were residents of Balkh province, while others were from Ghorimach district of Badghis province. Images shared on social media reportedly show the victims’ bodies scattered across the sands of the Margo Desert, with some remains still buried beneath the desert dunes.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
