KABUL: At least five Afghan migrants have died and 14 others remain missing after a group attempting to enter Iran illegally became stranded in the harsh desert terrain of southwestern Afghanistan, local authorities said.
According to officials in Nimroz province, the victims are believed to have succumbed to severe thirst and extreme temperatures while trying to cross into neighbouring Iran through remote desert routes.
Five young Afghan migrants attempting to enter Iran illegally have died after reportedly losing their way in the deserts of Nimroz province, local officials say. The bodies of five people have been recovered, while 14 others remain missing. Search efforts are ongoing. pic.twitter.com/GorLM58sD7
— Afghanistan Times (@AfghanistanTime) July 19, 2026
Police spokesman Gul Mohammad Qudrat said Afghan security forces had recovered the bodies of five members of the group, while search operations were continuing to locate the remaining 14 people reported missing.
The migrants were part of a 19-member group that had attempted to cross the border through isolated areas stretching across Helmand and Nimroz provinces, where soaring summer temperatures and limited access to water make the journey particularly dangerous.
Thousands of Afghans continue to undertake risky irregular border crossings into Iran each year, driven largely by economic hardship and the search for employment opportunities.
The latest tragedy follows similar incidents in recent years. Last year, dozens of Afghan migrants reportedly died after being exposed to freezing conditions while attempting to enter Iran through mountainous border regions.
According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), around 780,000 registered Afghan refugees currently live in Iran, although Iranian authorities estimated the total Afghan population in the country at approximately 2.6 million in 2022, including undocumented migrants.
Iran has significantly intensified the repatriation of Afghan nationals in recent years. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says nearly 1.5 million Afghans were returned from Iran during 2025, reflecting Tehran’s stricter approach towards undocumented migrants.
The latest incident underscores the growing humanitarian risks faced by Afghans who continue to undertake perilous journeys in search of safety and livelihoods beyond their country’s borders.
