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Iranian Official Raises Alarm over Fate of Hor al-Azim Marshes

May 10, 2023
1 min read
Water protests in Iran have become more frequent and culminated with the June 2021 demonstrations in Khuzestan, which triggered demonstrations against the Islamic Republic nationwide
Water protests in Iran have become more frequent and culminated with the June 2021 demonstrations in Khuzestan, which triggered demonstrations against the Islamic Republic nationwide
Hor al-Azim marshes is of great importance in terms of hydrology and biology, spanning over 300,000 hectares; one-third of its area is in Iran and the rest in neighboring Iraq
Hor al-Azim marshes is of great importance in terms of hydrology and biology, spanning over 300,000 hectares; one-third of its area is in Iran and the rest in neighboring Iraq
The Khuzestan Water Resources Organization has said that water transfer projects and the construction of dams on the marshes' tributaries have caused significant damage to the region
The Khuzestan Water Resources Organization has said that water transfer projects and the construction of dams on the marshes' tributaries have caused significant damage to the region

An Iranian official has raised the alarm about the deepening water crisis facing the south-western province of Khuzestan, saying that failing to secure water rights the Hor al-Azim marshes could result in numerous problems during the summer, including fires, the mass death of wild animals and dust pollution.

Adel Mola of the provincial office of the Department of Environmental Protection told ISNA news agency on May 10 that the Ministry of Energy is partly responsible for the dehydration and drying of the marshes.

The Ministry of Energy has been contacted to address the issue, he said, insisting that "if conditions are not managed, they could face a difficult season ahead."

Mohammed Darwish and other local environmental activists have accused the ministry of deliberately drying up the wetland to extract oil. 

"The Ministry of Oil wants to give oil extraction [rights] to a Chinese contractor," Darwish said. "The Chinese contractor also said during the Ahmadinejad government (2005-2013) that if this wetland is dry, they will lower the prices by 20 percent. They came to the conclusion that it is better to dry the wetland."

Hor al-Azim marshes is of great importance in terms of hydrology and biology, spanning over 300,000 hectares; one-third of its area is in Iran and the rest in neighboring Iraq.

The Khuzestan Water Resources Organization has said that water transfer projects and the construction of dams on the marshes' tributaries have caused significant damage to the region. 

Water protests in Iran have become more frequent and culminated with the June 2021 demonstrations in Khuzestan, which triggered demonstrations against the Islamic Republic nationwide. 

The protests followed the mass deaths of livestock due to diminishing water supplies and the drying-up of rivers and wetlands such as the Hor al-Azim marshes. They also took on an anti-government aspect due to the widespread belief that years of mismanagement of water resources has been the main cause of the shortages.

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