Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, has called for action to address the factors that drive Afghan citizens to undertake such dangerous and desperate journeys in response to the deaths of 19 individuals from the country along smuggling routes to Iran in the Nimroz desert.
Mr. Bennett expressed his condolences to the families of the victims in the Nimroz desert through a message on his X account.
He emphasized, “This horrific incident highlights the urgent need to seriously address the root causes that push Afghans to undertake such desperate and perilous journeys.”
This comes in the wake of an incident about two weeks ago, where a group of 19 Afghan citizens seeking to travel illegally to Iran went missing in the Nimroz province.
According to available information, the bodies of five individuals were discovered on July 25 in the “Margo” desert, while the bodies of 14 others were found in the “Lalu” sand dunes in Nimroz late last week.
Previously, the International Organization for Migration also expressed its condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, stating that every life lost on migration routes is a deep and painful tragedy.
Poverty, unemployment, and a lack of suitable living opportunities are among the main factors driving many people toward perilous migration through difficult paths, resulting in numerous Afghan citizens losing their lives each year.
