13 migrants freeze to death on Turkey-Iran border

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Thirteen migrants crossing to Turkey froze to death on Sunday in Van province on the Turkish-Iranian border. 

The Human Rights Association (IHD) said that they were informed about the deaths of 13 "refugees" at 22:00 Thursday in the area of Caldiran Saricimen.  

Various local media outlets reported that three of the dead hailed from Kobane in northeast Syria. 

Unconfirmed reports have speculated that the other victims were of Afghan origin.

Van governor Mehmet Elin Bilmez said they have "begun investigations into the matter."

"Unfortunately, tens of people die on our borders. Hopes are disappearing,” Murat Melet, head of Van’s IHD branch told local media, calling on people to “take responsibility” to reach the victims. 

Heavy snowfall has prevented relevant Turkish authorities from visiting the scene. 

Van officials are looking to cooperate with Iranian authorities to uncover the identity of the victims and will visit the scene when the weather improves, Bilmez added.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) described the incident as "the shame of humanity," calling on Ankara and Tehran to "find a solution" to such deaths.

"An investigation should be initiated without delay to uncover the networks that are responsible for the murder of refugees," it added. 

Turkey is the leading route for migrants from the region looking to reach the European Union (EU).