ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The father of three Kurdish children who drowned while attempting to cross from Turkey into Greece renewed his appeal to senior Kurdistan Region officials on Saturday to help recover and repatriate his children's bodies, as he recounted how smugglers threatened him and forced his family onto an overcrowded inflatable boat.
Harem Mohammed called on Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani to help return his children's bodies to the Kurdistan Region.
Speaking by phone to Rudaw's Nma Nabaz on Saturday, Mohammed described the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and urged other parents not to trust human smugglers.
"Please don't cause us any more pain. I didn't know this would be my fate. I wanted to provide a better life for my children. My heart is broken. Please stop making inappropriate remarks and posting hurtful comments," he said, addressing criticism he has faced following the tragedy.
Mohammed, 41, lost his three children - Hastyar, 12, Haryad, 9, and Mela, 5 - on Wednesday when an inflatable boat carrying his family and other migrants capsized in the Maritsa (Meric) River, known as the Evros in Greece, along the border between the two countries.
The family had traveled from Sulaimani to Turkey, hoping to reach Germany through Greece. They had deposited $55,000 to be handed over to smugglers upon their arrival in Germany.
"I flew from Sulaimani to Turkey and then traveled to Edirne. Our smuggler was named Rekan, from Erbil, and he was accompanied by a guide named Sarbaz, who was also from Erbil," Mohammed recalled.
He said a vehicle picked up the family from an apartment at around 7 pm and drove them to a wooded area near the border where Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria meet.
"We walked for approximately 20 to 25 minutes until we reached the riverbank," he said.
Mohammed said the inflatable boat was too small to accommodate the eight migrants and their belongings, prompting him to ask the smugglers to transport some of the passengers and luggage separately.
"There were eight of us with eight bags, and the smugglers were two people. I asked them to take the bags and one of us to the other side first, then return for the rest of us. But the guide, whose name was Sarbaz, threatened me. I was afraid he would harm my children, so I had no choice but to agree."
Describing the incident, Mohammed said, "As soon as we entered the water and traveled about two meters, the boat struck a tree and overturned. When it capsized, I couldn't see anything, neither my children nor anyone else. I was only able to save my wife. The guides, who knew how to swim, saved themselves and fled."
Following the incident, Mohammed and his wife, Hozan Rostam, 37, sought assistance from Turkish border guards.
"I surrendered myself to the border guards and told them that my three children had drowned in the river. They immediately alerted rescue teams and divers," he said.
One of the children was rescued from the river but later died at a hospital in Edirne, while the other two were swept away by strong currents.
Turkish authorities launched a search-and-rescue operation involving the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and gendarmerie units to locate the missing children.
Mohammed on Saturday warned parents considering dangerous migration routes.
"Don't break your own hearts as I have broken mine, and don't be deceived by the words of smugglers."
