The killing and confiscation of Kolbars’ pack animals by border forces in Hanjiran, Kurdistan, continues.
According to Kolbernews, on Wednesday, February 11, 2025, border regiment forces in Hanjiran, a district of Marivan County, opened fire on Kolbars’ pack animals and set them on fire. Several animals were killed, while others were seized and confiscated by border forces.
This act of violence follows a series of similar incidents where security forces have targeted Kolbars forced to carry goods across the border due to economic hardship and lack of job opportunities. The destruction of their pack animals not only inflicts financial losses but also jeopardizes the livelihoods of their families.
Based on statistics recorded by Kolbarnews, in 2024, a total of 345 Kolbars (border porters) in the border areas and inter-road routes of the West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, and Kermanshah provinces were killed or injured due to factors such as direct gunfire from regime military forces, avalanches and frostbite, stepping on landmines, falling from mountains and heights, and other incidents. Of this total, 59 Kolbars (17%) were killed, and 286 Kolbars (83%) were injured.Among the 345 Kolbars killed or injured in 2024, 259 cases (75%) were due to direct gunfire from regime military forces. Additionally, 22 of the total (6%) were child Kolbars under 18 years old, one of whom died as a result of frostbite.
