Summer in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan is not only subject to unbearable heat, but also a never ending quest for water. Due to major water cuts, the people of Zahedan have been spending hours queuing at water stations under the scorching sun in the last weeks – some unsuccessful in getting the bare minimum needed to survive.
Iranian officials consider these cuts as an “effective” way to address the water crisis in the country despite expert predictions of a complete depletion of the region’s water supply in the next months. Iran has a long history of drought and water mismanagement, which has proven to systematically target the country’s southern and border regions. The 1000 km pipeline from the sea of Oman to Sistan and Baluchestan, currently under construction, is planned to bring desalinated water to the region. The real question is, can the damage be reversed?
Our cartoon this week is “I’m Thirsty” by Netherlands based Iranian cartoonist, Homa Eskandari. Source: CartoonMovement.
