ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The body of a young child believed to be four-year-old Yad Sarbaz, who had been missing for more than two weeks, has been found in Sulaimani province's Raparin administration, local officials and family members told Rudaw on Friday.
Yad Sarbaz went missing on May 28 while celebrating Eid al-Adha with his family in Andza village, located in the foothills of Qandil Mountain in Raparin.
Despite extensive search efforts by local residents and authorities over the past 15 days, the child could not be located.
Family members, speaking to Rudaw on condition of anonymity, said a body was found near the village and they suspect it is Yad's because the clothing matches what he was wearing when he disappeared.
Rudaw has learned that the body was transferred by Sangasar's forensic evidence and crime police to the forensic medicine department in Ranya for further examination.
Nahro Abdullah, head of Sangasar sub-district administration, confirmed to Rudaw that the body of a child had been found in the village, adding that the clothing matches that of Yad.
Authorities have yet to announce the results of forensic tests to officially confirm the identity of the body.
The family said in a statement seen by Rudaw that they will not conduct any mourning ceremony until authorities confirm the identity of the body.
