Kurds among 12 Syrians who died of thirst in Algerian deserts

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Four of the twelve Syrians who were found dead in Algerian deserts while desperately trying to reach Europe were Kurds, and now relatives are struggling to repatriate the bodies.

Khalil Izzat Ibrahim, a 47-year-old Kurd from Kobane, went from Damascus to Libya in June on a tourist visa. From there, he crossed to Algeria through smuggling routes along with 11 other Syrians, and a driver and his companion - both Algerian nationals.

According to the Search and Rescue Association in the Algerian state of Tamanrasset, they discovered the dead bodies and their white Toyota four-wheel-drive vehicle on Sunday after five days of continued search.

Forensic examinations at the Burj Omar Idris Hospital determined that thirst was the primary cause of death, following a vehicle breakdown in harsh desert conditions.

Ibrahim is survived by two wives and six children.

Ibrahim's family, including brothers and sisters who live in Erbil, have held a funeral for him. All they now worry about is how to repatriate his dead body and where to bury him, Erbil, or his hometown Kobane.

"After they arrived in Algeria, they found themselves in deserts, and they had to drive 500 kilometers in the deserts. There were 12 passengers and smugglers had put them all in one vehicle," Khalil Ibrahim, Ibrahim's uncle, told Rudaw on Tuesday.

The group became stranded in the desert after their vehicle broke down.

"All they had carried with them was a little water bottle. The reason why they did not carry much water with them was that it would take up the space of passengers,” he added.

"It was the reason that they were stuck in the desert after their vehicle broke down. They did not manage to reach any area nearby..." the uncle said.

A camel herder saw the vehicle and noticed the dead bodies lying scattered on the ground and that some had died inside the car, he detailed.

In recent years, dozens of Syrians have died in the Algerian deserts or off its coasts while attempting to cross into Europe via the Mediterranean.

Ibrahim says they have reached out to some relevant authorities in Algeria who have asked them to send money for the dead body to be returned to them.

"Our plea is we want the dead body to be returned…” he said. “So the children can bury their father's dead body in their village... We have reached out to some sides. They say send us money so we can send you back the body... 

“Until now they have not announced how much they want, but they may demand at least $4,000 to $5,000... The dead body should be repatriated to Beirut, and then to Damascus, and from there to Kobane. This entire process needs money.”