Migrant graves in Turkey testify to border perils

There are people who were on the run and couldn’t settle in any nation all the time they were alive and unfortunately, with the ongoing war, these people don’t even have access to the grave after being dead. Just plain concrete gravestones painted with a number and the word “Afghan” were seen against all those unidentified migrants who died trying to enter Turkey through the rough mountainous border with Iran.

 

People have died escaping from conflict or poverty, mostly from Afghanistan but also from other countries in the region. Thousands of people even succumbed after exposure to extreme weather whereas others died being the victim of unfortunate accidents as their smugglers crammed people in trucks and boats.

 

People who were not identified were buried in dirt lots in special sections of cemeteries near the borders of Iran. Their grave markers bear as well which states their nationality or date of death if it is disclosed or known.

 

An official said that during the passage of irregular migrants there may be those who freeze at the borderline in winter. There may be people who drown in a stream. From time to time, there are people who lose their lives in traffic accidents.

 

Talking about the unidentified borders, doctors say that if no one takes responsibility for them within 15 days, then the metropolitan municipality takes the body from the morgue, buries it in the cemetery and gives it a number. 

 

As per the testimonies from the migrants, their biggest obstacle throughout the way is the weather. Winter temperatures in Van province’s vast highlands can dip as low as minus 26.9 Celsius. Unfortunately, Turkish authorities reported that their team recovered several bodies in the region this spring as the ice form once the snow began to melt.

 

Other than weather other hazards that stand in their way are hunger, thirst, and robbers who threaten or kill migrants if they don’t give up their possessions on the spot.