Drought in Sistan and Baluchistan

The southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan has been suffering from a drought and shortages in water supplies for more than two decades. Recent moves to re-route the Helmand River (called Hirmand in Iran), which runs across parts of Afghanistan as well as the Iranian province, have exacerbated the problem for the people living there, as has the drying up of Hamoun Lake and surrounding wetlands. As a result, huge amounts of sand and dust blow across the region, bringing devastation to agriculture and fishing industries and causing widespread health problems for many people living there. 

Photos by Mohammad Safarpour, Islamic Republic News Agency