Storm in Sistan; 260 People Sent to Medical Centers

The head of the Zabol Meteorological Department announced a storm in Zabol, stating that the concentration of suspended particles in the air has reached 37 times the permissible limit. Simultaneously, over 260 residents of the Sistan region have experienced respiratory problems. According to Mehr News Agency, Gholamhossein Abedi, the head of the Zabol Meteorological Department, said on Wednesday, August 31, that the maximum wind speed in Zabol over the past 24 hours exceeded 115 kilometers per hour, raising the concentration of suspended particles in the air of this city to 5540 micrograms per cubic meter. He noted that the permissible limit for suspended particles in each cubic meter of air for healthy individuals is less than 150 micrograms per cubic meter. Mr. Abedi also mentioned that the intensity of the storm in Zabol reduced horizontal visibility at Zabol Airport to 500 meters, causing disruptions in the airport's flight schedule. The head of the Zabol Meteorological Department added that the phenomena of storms and dust have also affected the cities of Zehak, Hirmand, Hamun, and Nimruz. According to him, these conditions caused horizontal visibility in Zahedan to decrease to two thousand meters, and the concentration of suspended particles in the air of the provincial capital of Sistan and Baluchestan increased to over 600 micrograms per cubic meter, which is four times the permissible limit. On the other hand, Abdolrahman Shahnavazi, the director general of the Crisis Management Office of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, reported that more than 260 residents of the Sistan region were sent to medical centers due to respiratory problems caused by the dust storm. He noted that 203 of the injured were treated and discharged after visiting, while 58 others were hospitalized. Residents of Sistan and Baluchestan Province have been struggling with air pollution and dust storms, especially in recent months. In July of this year, a sandstorm sent more than 100 people to the hospital. The drying of the Hamun wetland, drought in Sistan, and climate change have not only affected people's health but also agricultural conditions and daily life, raising air pollution levels to 20 times the permissible limit. The drying of Hamun and the insufficient water rights from the Hirmand River provided by Afghanistan have also been cited as other reasons for the occurrence of these dust storms. According to a representative of Sistan and Baluchestan in the Supreme Council of Provinces, drought has impoverished the people of this province to such an extent that children go to school 'without breakfast,' 'some people have not seen a piece of meat for months,' and they survive on 'dry bread.' Sistan and Baluchestan, where most residents are Sunni Muslims, is one of the most deprived provinces in Iran, and drought and air pollution have exacerbated the challenges faced by this province.