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At least 19 Afghan migrants have died in a tragic incident after becoming stranded in the desert while attempting to enter Iran, reportedly succumbing to extreme heat and dehydration, according to Gulf News.
Local authorities in Nimroz province in southwestern Afghanistan said the victims, all men from Badghis province in the northwest, were trying to cross the border illegally in search of work and better economic opportunities. They became trapped in the desert due to intense heat and lack of water, ultimately dying from thirst and heat-related conditions.
Habibullah Elham, director of the provincial Information and Culture Department, said 14 bodies were recovered from the Rig Lalo desert in Nimroz with the help of local residents during a search operation.
Earlier, five other bodies had been found in the nearby Dasht-e Margo desert, widely known as the “Valley of Death.” With the latest recovery, the death toll for the group has been confirmed at 19.
Provincial spokesperson Abdul Mutawakil Tawahidi said local authorities and residents worked together to retrieve and transport the bodies from the remote and harsh terrain.
All the victims were from the same village in Badghis province. Nimroz, which borders Iran and Pakistan, serves as a major transit route for Afghan migrants. However, the region’s vast sand dunes, harsh landscape, and extreme summer temperatures—often exceeding 50°C—make such crossings extremely dangerous.
Human rights and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that migrants attempting desert crossings during summer face severe risks, including dehydration, extreme weather, and exhaustion.
This incident highlights once again the deadly consequences of irregular and hazardous migration routes from Afghanistan.