As air pollution continues and intensifies in Khuzestan Province, schools at all educational levels in 13 cities of the province have been closed on Saturday, February 11. The main cause of the pollution has been identified as 'dust storms' from Iraq, which have worsened the situation over the past three days. Mohammad Taghizadeh, the Director General of Education in Khuzestan Province, told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) that 'schools in the cities of Ahvaz, Susangerd, Hendijan, Gotvand, Shushtar, Shush, Dezful, Hamidiyeh, Karun, Bavi, Andimeshk, Hoveyzeh, and Mahshahr are closed in the morning shift.' The Fars News Agency quoted the same official stating that information regarding the potential closure of the afternoon shift of these schools will be announced later. School closures due to air pollution in Ahvaz and Khuzestan Province are not new; during the first week of the new school year, with dust levels increasing to 15 times above the permissible limit, the crisis management of Khuzestan Province had declared the closure of schools in Ahvaz. Citizens' reactions on Twitter to the air pollution in Ahvaz have been noted. IRNA quoted the Governor of Khuzestan stating that recent pollution has 'completely internal roots' and is 'due to the lack of rainfall' over the past months. Nevertheless, Abdolhossein Moqtadaei, this government official, emphasized that 'the issue related to the application of mulch in the deserts of neighboring countries has not yet been resolved and must be pursued through national authorities to address this problem fundamentally.' Mulch is used to stabilize loose sands in desert areas. This material is made either naturally from plant residues or artificially from petroleum products, fiberglass, or similar materials. Its use has critics, including Parviz Kordavani, an Iranian desert scientist, who previously stated in an interview with IRNA that mulch application 'has many environmental side effects due to the chemical substances in the mulch material, which in some cases are irreparable.' The head of the Medical Emergency Management Center of Khuzestan Province stated in November that respiratory diseases and problems arising from pollution have increased this solar year. This center had been in a state of full readiness due to air pollution in October.
Air Pollution Closes Schools in Khuzestan Province
Air pollution in Khuzestan Province has led to the closure of schools in 13 cities due to dust storms from Iraq. Local officials attribute the pollution to both internal factors and a lack of rainfall, while concerns about environmental impacts from mulch application persist. This situation highlights ongoing environmental challenges in the region.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Schools in 13 cities of Khuzestan Province were closed due to severe air pollution caused by dust storms from Iraq. Local officials are addressing both internal and external factors contributing to the pollution crisis.
- Dust storm pollution levels reached 15 times above permissible limits.
- School closures due to air pollution have been a recurring issue in the region.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Khuzestan Province has long struggled with air quality issues, exacerbated by regional climate factors and inadequate environmental management.
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%