Bodies of 13 Kurdish migrants repatriated from Italy to Kurdistan Region

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) representative in Italy, Rezan Hama Salih, announced on Friday that the bodies of 36 Kurdish migrants have been recovered following a tragic boat capsizing in Italian waters.

During a press conference held at Erbil International Airport, Salih confirmed that the remains of 13 Kurdish migrants returned to the Kurdistan Region tonight. She stated that the bodies of additional victims would be repatriated once the necessary tests in Italy were completed.

 "When the results of the tests in Italy are released, the bodies of the other migrants will be returned to the Kurdistan Region," Salih explained.

The return of the bodies to their homeland has been facilitated by the KRG, with the active involvement of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. The repatriation process commenced at 9 PM when the first batch of remains arrived in Erbil. Some relatives of the deceased expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Barzani for his efforts in expediting the return.

Salih further detailed that some of the repatriated bodies would be transported by ambulance to the border of Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhilat), where they would be handed over to their respective families.

This tragic incident occurred on June 17, when a boat carrying dozens of migrants, including Kurds, capsized off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy. Italian media reported that several migrants were still missing following the disaster.

The KRG has been actively involved in addressing the aftermath of this calamity, ensuring that the victims' bodies are returned home for proper burial and that their families receive the support they need during this difficult time.