- publish: 19 October 2015
- time: 11:22 am
- category: International
- No: 1807
Traffic accident leaves 20 Afghan migrants killed in Iran
20 Afghan migrants have lost lives in a traffic accident in Iran, the country’s state TV reported on Sunday.
The crash took place on the road between Iran’s capital Tehran and the city of Qom. It involved a mini-bus, a truck and a car. 10 other Afghans were also wounded in the accident.
Mohammad Hussain, chief officer of the country’s road police said that the victims were illegal migrants who had crossed the border into Iran illegally.
Following a rapid increase in insecurity, poverty and lack of job opportunities, thousands of Afghans leave the country every month.
Most of them go through Iran to reach out to Europe in an effort to have a good life.
An envoy of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations in Iran said in September that up to 2,000 Afghans cross the border into Iran illegally every day.
Mohammad Asif Durzabi added that looking at the daily count, every month Up to 60,000 Afghans are illegally arriving in Iran.
Durzabi said that on average, 20 Afghans die in Iran every week as the result of shooting of border security guards, traffic accidents or other incidents at their working locations in Iran.