• The bodies of 14 Afghan men who went missing while attempting to travel without documents to Iran have been recovered in western Afghanistan, with officials attributing their deaths to extreme heat and dehydration in the deserts.
• Five additional bodies were found days earlier in a desert known as the "Desert of Death," bringing the total number of victims to 19, all believed to be residents of the same village in western Afghanistan.
• Despite the dangers of the journey, many young Afghans leave for Iran in search of work, with Iran serving as a transit country on the way to Europe for those seeking better economic opportunities.

The bodies of 14 Afghan men who went missing while attempting to travel without documents to Iran have been recovered in western Afghanistan, a local official said on Saturday.

Habibullah Elham, director of information and culture for Nimruz province, told dpa that the bodies were found in the Reg-e Lalo area of the province.

According to broadcaster TOLOnews, the bodies of another five men were found days earlier in Dasht-e Margo, a desert locally known as the "Desert of Death."

The men are believed to have died about two weeks ago from extreme heat and dehydration in the deserts, according to officials.

All of the victims were reportedly residents of the same village in western Afghanistan.

Hundreds of Afghans die or go missing each year along irregular migration and smuggling routes, particularly while attempting to reach neighbouring Iran.

With poverty and unemployment remaining widespread, many young Afghans leave for Iran in search of work despite the dangers of the journey. For many, Iran serves as a transit country on the way to Europe, where they hope to find better economic opportunities.