Air Pollution and Dust Storms Lead to Closure of Government Offices, Banks, and Schools in Ahvaz

The increase in dust concentration and air pollution in Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan province, has led to the closure of all government offices and banks in the city from 12 PM local time on Tuesday, November 21. According to ILNA news agency, Nabiollah Khon Mirzaei, the acting governor of Ahvaz County, stated that due to the occurrence of dust storms and air pollution, all government offices and agencies in Ahvaz, except for health, emergency, and operational centers, will be closed until 12 PM on Tuesday. The report also noted that all oil administrative offices in Ahvaz County have been closed. The state news agency IRNA reported that schools at various levels and higher education centers in the afternoon session on Tuesday in Ahvaz, Bouyeh, Hamidiyeh, and Karun have been closed due to the forecast of dust storms. The reports did not mention the status of private companies and factories. In recent years, with the increase in air pollution and dust storms in Khuzestan province, only government offices, banks, and schools have been declared closed. According to IRNA, the dust concentration in Ahvaz County reached more than 23 times the permissible limit before noon on Tuesday. In this regard, the public relations office of the Khuzestan Environmental Protection Agency announced that the dust concentration in Ahvaz County at 11 AM on Tuesday reached 3543, in Shush 339, in Andimeshk 256, in Shushtar 212, and in Dezful 211 micrograms per cubic meter. The natural level of suspended particles in the air is 150 micrograms per cubic meter. The occurrence of dust storms and air pollution in at least 10 provinces in the west, center, and south of Iran in recent years has repeatedly led to the closure of schools and offices, flight cancellations, and respiratory problems for many citizens. Previously, in the last week of Bahman last year, electricity and water in Ahvaz and several cities in Khuzestan province were cut off due to a dust storm, and several citizens of Ahvaz gathered multiple times in front of the Khuzestan governorate. Following these protests, the Khuzestan police issued a statement prohibiting any gathering in front of the Khuzestan governorate. At that time, IRNA reported that following these events, Hashem Baladi, the director general of crisis management in the governorate, and Shahryar Bazargan, the director general of natural resources in Khuzestan, were dismissed. Subsequently, Eshaq Jahangiri, the first vice president of Iran, on March 3, 2017, communicated a government resolution to allocate 30 billion tomans aimed at 'stabilizing critical dust sources' in the short term to five ministries and organizations. In this context, the combination of humidity and dust storms will lead to 'cutting off water and electricity in Khuzestan.'