Storm and Dust in Sistan and Baluchestan Sends 800 People to Hospitals and Treatment Centers

A provincial official in Sistan and Baluchestan announced on Thursday, September 2, that following a storm and dust in the Sistan region since August 30, 800 individuals have visited medical centers and hospitals. According to the state news agency IRNA, Majid Mohibi, the director of the Crisis Management Office of Sistan and Baluchestan, stated that 'in five counties: Zabol, Zahak, Hamun, Hirmand, and Nimruz, 800 people from the Sistan region were sent to hospitals and treatment centers, of which 83 were hospitalized.' He added, 'Respiratory, cardiac, and eye problems have been the main issues for people during this time.' According to the director of the Crisis Management Office, 'during this period and following the occurrence of the 120-day winds, one citizen lost their life in an accident.' Despite the fact that Sistan and Baluchestan province periodically faces severe winds known as '120-day winds' from the beginning of summer each year, which at times brings dust and air pollution several times above standard levels, no serious measures have ever been taken to address the human impacts of these events. In addition to periodic winds, due to a noticeable decrease in the province's water resources, the drying up of the international Hamun wetland and the Hirmand River, as well as the loss of many local water catchments known as 'Hootak' due to lack of water, the damages caused by storms and strong winds have significantly increased. Some experts believe that the negligence of various governments of the Islamic Republic over the past decades in creating the necessary infrastructure to reduce the damages and casualties from such weather events, as well as the disregard for the drying up of water resources in Sistan and Baluchestan, especially the Hamun wetland or the important Hirmand River, has greatly contributed to the exacerbation of the effects of phenomena like the recent storm. Furthermore, based on a research report from the 'Open Data Iran' database, and by examining meteorological indicators over one-year and ten-year periods, '97 percent' of the total area of Iran is experiencing 'drought' due to decreased rainfall and increased temperatures.