Escalation of Dust Storm Crisis in Sistan Region

According to Mehr News Agency, air pollution and the increase in dust concentration in the Sistan region have now reached 35 times the global standard. The representative of Sistan in the parliament criticized the government for its 'failure' to stabilize the shifting sands in this area. The report states that wind speeds in the region reached 60 kilometers per hour on Sunday, with speeds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour recorded the day before. Baqer Hosseini, the representative of Sistan in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, told Mehr News Agency, 'During the government's trip to Sistan and Baluchestan in Farvardin (March-April) of this year, the stabilization of shifting sands in 1,000 hectares of critical areas in Sistan was approved to reduce the intensity of dust storms, but unfortunately, this plan has not been implemented despite budget allocation.' In a report published on Sunday, March 3, Baqer Hosseini addressed the government, saying, 'The government of Mr. Rouhani must be accountable to the people because if solving the Hamoun crisis is related to foreign diplomacy, why is there no action taken to stabilize shifting sands and eliminate the critical dust sources in Sistan, which is an internal issue?' Ali Osta Hashemi, in a specialized environmental committee in Sistan and Baluchestan, also stated in an interview with Mehr that 'the comprehensive plan for the revival of Hamoun should have been ready six months ago, but it has been delayed until now.' The report indicates that dust storms in the Sistan region have intensified over the past 18 years, with the duration of the dust storm season, known as the 120-day winds, now exceeding 150 days. The severity of this situation is such that on February 1, 2014, the level of suspended particles in the air of Sistan cities was reported to be more than 80 times the global standards. Parviz Kordavani, referred to as the 'father of desert studies in Iran,' explained the difference between the dust storms in the west and east of the country in an interview with Mehr News Agency. He stated, 'The storms in Ahvaz cannot be compared to the storms in Zabol; the speed of the storms in Zabol is 148 kilometers per hour, and the wind intensity is such that on stormy nights, some people sleep outside their homes because they may get trapped inside a sealed house; thus, if a Sistani were to go to Ahvaz during today's storms, they would think it is a pleasant and temperate place.' Baqer Hosseini, a member of the National Security Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, commented on the dust situation in Sistan to Mehr News Agency, saying, 'The people of Sistan remain silent due to the special conditions prevailing in Sistan and Baluchestan and to prevent misinterpretations by enemies and divisive elements, but this does not mean that no one hears the voices of these oppressed people.' Baqer Hosseini added, 'Some time ago, air pollution in Sistan was several times above global standards; according to the law, in crisis situations, the governor has the authority to close offices for the health of the people, and I requested this, but unfortunately, I received no response.' Ali Akbar Kheikha, the Friday prayer leader of Zabol, also criticized the dust situation in the region, stating, 'In the past, projects were left unfinished, and there have been shortcomings that have led to the current state of Sistan.' The Sistan region includes five counties: Zabol, Zahak, Hirmand, Hamoun, and Nimruz, located 220 kilometers from Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan.