14-year-old Maryam missing for 29 days
Soran authorities appeal for support in search for missing girl
SORAN — A search effort is underway in Soran for a 14-year-old girl named Maryam who has been missing for 29 days. Maryam Ismail, originally from Kirkuk, disappeared in the Balakayati area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Soran’s administration.
Maryam went missing on June 6, 2024, during a family outing to the village of Ene in the Choman district. She was last seen in the evening; subsequent reports indicate she might have fallen into a nearby river or wandered off. Her whereabouts remain unknown.
Rawand Hawdiani, a spokesperson for Soran Civil Defense, emphasized the need for community involvement in the search efforts. “The efforts of our search teams alone are insufficient. We are calling on local residents to join the search and help us cover more ground,” Hawdiani told 964media.
He added, “We still do not know if Maryam drowned or got lost in the wilderness, so it is essential to expand the search efforts from teams to a community level.”
Hawdiani also noted the expertise of the local population in navigating the area’s terrain, which is complicated by the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance.
Recalling a similar past incident, Hawdiani mentioned that the body of a boy was found a month after he went missing. This year, the region has seen four other tourists drown. In response, local authorities have implemented stricter safety measures at popular tourist spots.
The Civil Defense Directorate reported that there have been 40 drowning deaths in various parts of the Kurdistan Region this year. In 2023, more than 100 drownings were recorded across the region. Civil defense teams have intensified rescue operations, saving nearly 70 people so far.
