5 children of the same Kurdish family drown off Turkish coast
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Nine Syrian refugees, including seven children, drowned in the early hours of Sunday when the speedboat they were travelling in sank off the Mediterranean coast of Antalya. Turkish police say five of the children who drowned are siblings.
The small vessel sank at 2.20 A.M while trying to reach Europe. Six adults were rescued.
The small vessel sank at 2.20 A.M while trying to reach Europe. Six adults were rescued.
Turkish media outlets named five of the children, all from the same Kurdish family, as Derin Rashid, 13, Dldar Rashid, 10, Shihar Rahisd, 8, Dzhwar Rashid, 8, and Amina Rashid, 3.
Their bodies are being held in government hospital in Antalya.
According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), 10,948 people crossed to Greece this year up to May 30 – a sharp increase on the same period in 2017.
So far this year, 35 people have died attempting the treacherous route.