A human rights website reports: More than 120 Kolbars were killed and injured in the first six months of 2019.
In the first six months of this year, at least 121 kolbars were killed or injured in various border areas of Kurdistan.
According to the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, in the first six months of this year, at least 121 kolbars and traders were killed or injured on the Kurdistan borders, 84 percent of whom lost their lives to direct fire from border guards.
According to the report of this human rights organization, this month 84% of kolbars were injured or killed by direct fire, 8.5% by natural disasters, 4% by landmine explosions, and 3.5% by traffic accidents.
These statistics show that Iranian border guards have killed 27 Kolbars and injured 77 others with direct fire. On the other hand, natural disasters have left seven dead and three injured, mine explosions have left one dead and three injured, and accidents have left two dead and one injured.
According to this report, among the Kolbars who lost their lives due to direct fire from Iranian forces, three Kolbars were under the age of 18.
Voice of America has independently confirmed some of the deaths and injuries.
In recent years, dozens of kolbars, forced to work as kolbars due to economic difficulties, have lost their lives. In addition to dangers such as falling from mountains and freezing to death, shooting at kolbars has claimed dozens of lives and injured dozens more in recent years.
This is despite the fact that even Iranian authorities themselves admit that the volume of smuggled goods imported by kolbars is very small compared to smuggling from other sources.
The report by the Hengaw Human Rights Organization states that the highest number of kolbars killed and injured was in West Azerbaijan province, with 23 killed and 60 injured.
While reports continue about the harsh living conditions and deaths of Kolbars in Iran's border cities, Rasoul Khezri, a representative of the people of Piranshahr, described the current situation as "complicated" on Sunday, June 16, and said that the closure of the borders has destroyed the livelihoods of Kolbars.
The United States has repeatedly condemned institutionalized financial corruption among members of Iran's ruling class, the plunder of the country's God-given assets by the leaders of the Islamic Republic regime, and the foreign adventures of the Iranian regime, and has considered them to be among the main factors behind the economic and financial problems of various segments of the Iranian people.
Source: Voice of America
