The representative of Iran’s regime for the Sistan region has expressed concern: “Sistan is experiencing depopulation and being buried under layers of sand. Why has there been no meeting to address the issue of micro dust in Sistan?”
Not too long ago, Sistan was renowned as Iran’s granary. Its temperate climate attracted migratory birds in large numbers every year. In addition to species like owls, crested ducks, hubra, tiho, and eagles, the region was home to various other indigenous birds of Hamoun, their lives intertwined with the plains and wetlands of Hamoun.
The challenges created by the regime for the people of this region and its environment, coupled with Afghanistan’s Taliban neglecting to utilize the full capacity of the Hirmand River, amounting to 820 million cubic meters annually, have transformed what were once blessings from the heavens—gentle breezes, bountiful agriculture, and the happiness of its people—into winds that now gradually bury the Sistan region under layers of soil. This, in some way, foreshadows the destiny of yet another forsaken city near the Uhad Strait.
This is due to the sand and fine dust storms, a consequence of the Hamoun wetland’s desiccation, which has left the people struggling to breathe and robbed life from Sistan’s inhabitants. There’s no sign of livestock, agriculture, mat weaving, or fishing, and the city has fallen into a somber and eerie silence.
A review of the regime’s Ministry of Health reports has revealed that, from 2015 to the end of 2022, the city of Zabol consistently recorded the highest concentration of suspended particles measuring 2.5 microns, making it the most polluted city in the country for seven consecutive years.
Hamoun International Lake and Wetland, Iran’s third-largest lake, following the Caspian Lake and Urmia Lake, once ranked as the world’s 7th international wetland and stood as one of the nation’s biosphere reserves.
However, the detrimental actions of neighboring Afghanistan and the regime’s negligence have led to a decline in water inflow from the Hirmand River to Hamoun Lake since the late 80s, coinciding with reduced rainfall and increasing drought conditions.
The absence of a stable government in Afghanistan, the construction of multiple dams like Kajaki and Kamal Khan on the Hirmand River for water diversion, the installation and utilization of various pumps along the Hirmand River for agricultural purposes by Afghan farmers on one hand; and on the other hand, declining atmospheric precipitation and the fury of nature have accompanied the desiccation of Hamoun Lake.
As a result, the once-refreshing 120-day winds that used to grace the Hamoun lagoon, promising moist and pleasant breezes, now bury the homes and dwellings of this land’s residents under a relentless onslaught of sand.
Formidable storms, typically traveling at speeds of 80 to 120 km per hour, carry vast quantities of sand and dust to the cities, villages, and homes of the region. In addition to impeding the ability of the land’s inhabitants to breathe, these storms have inflicted a multitude of respiratory, heart, and lung ailments upon the oppressed and underprivileged people of the area. They descend upon Sistan like cruel lashes upon the weary and ailing body of the region.
The Majlis representative for the cities of Zabul, Zahk, Hirmand, Nimroz, and Hamoun stated, “The Minister of Interior was expected to allocate the funds from the plan for procuring fuel for border residents to the people of Sistan.
Unfortunately, contrary to the promises made, these funds have not been disbursed to the people. This issue demands immediate attention.”
Mohammad Sargazi, the Majlis member of the Zabul Constituency, underscored that Sistan is experiencing depopulation and emphasized: “Sistan is being engulfed by heaps of dust. Why has there been no meeting convened at the highest level to address the issue of micro dust in Sistan?”
In reference to the actions taken against Afghanistan’s commitments regarding the Hirmand watershed and the construction of diversions obstructing water flow into Iran, he asserted: “The Afghan side must fulfill its basic obligations towards Iran. Unfortunately, the rights of the people of Sistan and Baluchestan have been compromised with the construction of the Kamal Khan Dam.”
Regarding the dispatch of an expert team comprised of local authorities and specialists to Afghanistan for an assessment of the status of Hirmand River’s rights, Sargazi elaborated: “In accordance with the agreement dating back to 1973, any action by the Afghan side that prevents us from realizing our rights in water transfer is in violation of the agreement.”
He asserted, “Over these years, the Afghan side has introduced numerous minor and major deviations along the Hirmand route, which contravene specific sections of the agreement’s text. We retain the right to scrutinize this issue from the inception of the Water rights movement in Iran. Any anomalous changes should be addressed by the other party.”
In accordance with the agreement of 1973, any actions taken by the Afghan government that obstruct Iran’s ability to exercise its rights in the water transfer process are considered violations of the agreement.
As usual, there has been a lack of adherence by the regime’s officials and leader who try constantly to convert this area of the country into a wasteland.
While the regime counts years of decreased rainfall as one of the main reasons for this disaster, it’s worth noting that in previous years, there was a substantial amount of rainfall in the central basin and the headwaters of the Hirmand River.
Nevertheless, about one billion cubic meters of water were redirected to Godzare because there was no inclination on the Afghan side to direct it towards Iran.
He further clarified, “The water from the Hirmand River is neither utilized by the Afghans themselves nor directed towards Iran. Unfortunately, the majority of this water goes to waste. In the entirety of the last water year, only 20 million cubic meters reached Iran. The government should consider taking specific measures in this regard.”
He lamented, “Regrettably, the rights of the people of Sistan and Baluchestan have been compromised since the construction of the Kamal Khan Dam, which has spanned approximately three years.”
Malik Fazli, a Majlis member from Sistan and Baluchestan, while elucidating the causes of the micro dust crisis in the province, said: “The phenomenon of dust and fine dust in Sistan and Baluchestan stems from the desiccation of Hamoun Lake. In the past, before the construction of dams in Afghanistan, water was sourced from the Hirmand River, leading to a substantial inflow into this lake.”
He went on to explain, “This practice used to guarantee that, following the 120-day winds in Sistan, there would be adequate air humidity, and the air temperature would remain at a manageable 30 degrees. Now that this lake has dried up, the air temperature can soar up to 50 degrees during the 120-day winds. This, coupled with the lack of moisture in the air, has led to the emergence of dust and fine particles, suffocating the people of this province.”
The representative of the residents of Saravan highlighted, “In the southern part of Sistan and Baluchestan, the water shortage stemming from mismanagement of the water sector has exacerbated this issue. Over the years, insufficient attention was given to the fact that tapping into aquifer canals for drinking water, and digging approximately 40 wells to draw water from the shared source of 20 aqueducts, would lead to the depletion of these aqueducts, resulting in a scarcity of drinking water and the mass migration of the population.”
Majid Mohebi, the Director General of the Crisis Management Office of Sistan and Baluchestan Governorate reported, “The Council of Ministers has approved 140 billion tomans in credit to compensate for the drought suffered by farmers in the Sistan region.”
Interestingly until now, there is no trace of this money and many of the people that as usual this money has been purloined by the regime’s corrupt officials.
Mohebi affirmed, “Drought and the repercussions of over two decades of declining rainfall have afflicted the farmers, horticulturists, and livestock breeders in Sistan and Baluchestan, particularly in the northern part of the province.”
He further added, “As drought persists year after year, its impact on agriculture in Sistan and Baluchestan intensifies, resulting in decreased production of certain agricultural goods both in terms of quantity and quality.”
He further added, “According to meteorological reports based on the Standardized Precipitation, Evaporation, and Transpiration Index (SPEI), over the course of one year until the end of July this year, 96.7% of the province has been grappling with drought. This rate stood at 99% in the Sistan region and 96.5% in the Baluchestan region.”
He highlighted, “Over a span of ten years, 99.6% of the area affected by drought in Sistan and Baluchestan is experiencing severe and critical drought conditions, encompassing approximately 87.6% of the affected region.”
Mohebi reported, “As a result of a new wave of strong winds sweeping through Sistan, Mahan Air had to cancel its flights on the Tehran-Zabol route and vice versa last Saturday morning due to the storm.”
The Director General of Meteorology for Sistan and Baluchistan commented, “This Saturday morning, Zabol experienced powerful winds reaching speeds of up to 108 km/h, and the resulting dust significantly diminished horizontal visibility at the city’s airport weather station, reducing it to 800 meters.”
He added, “In Zahak city, the maximum wind speed reached 50 km/h, causing a reduction in horizontal visibility at the city’s weather station to 800 meters.”
He noted, “In the eastern and western regions of Sistan and Baluchestan, we anticipate relatively strong to strong winds. Based on the current wind patterns, there is a possibility of dust particles being carried to the central and southern areas.”
In conclusion, it’s worth noting that the ongoing 120-day winds have led to the suspension of classes, prohibiting students from attending school at the beginning of the academic year. This decision was made by the General Administration of Crisis Management for Sistan and Baluchestan Governorate, which has mandated the closure of all schools and government offices in the northern part of the province, including the cities of Zabol, Zahak, Hamoun, Hirmand, and Nimruz for past Saturday due to the severe wind and dust conditions.
