Analysis by PMOI/MEK
Iran, July 17, 2019 – In March, flash floods stormed across many regions of Iran, covering vast areas with water and destroying towns, villages, and roads. One of the worse struck regions was the southwestern province of Khuzestan. However, more than three months after the destructive floods, Iranian regime officials have been sitting on their hands and doing nothing while locals continue to suffer in the aftermath of this natural disaster.
20,000 homes have been repaired, according to claims made by Iranian regime President Hassan Rouhani. However, so far, only 120 repaired homes are ready for use. Many farmers have missed out on the summer cultivation, and given the current conditions, they might also miss the winter cultivation.
After three months, areas of the province still have no electricity.
According to Khuzestan’s Red Crescent Foundation, the homes of more than 2,600 families need full renovation and 11,000 homes need repairs. There are also 6,000 families who have lost all their home appliances to the floods.
One state-run news agency acknowledged poor living conditions in Khuzestan:
Three months have passed since floods struck Khuzestan, and still, the suffering of this wounded land renews.
Unmet promises
The damages were supposed to be reimbursed without delay. However, the evidence does not confirm this claim. The flood has taken away everything from the victims. The ground has turned to mud and swamp. Their homes have been wrecked. They have been living in ruins for months now.
They missed the summer cultivation and will probably miss the winter cultivation too.
Abdul Ali is a resident of the Chamian village. This village is located next to the Karun River, between Ahvaz and Abadan. Abdul Ali says, “The people of this region have been abandoned. We have nowhere to get help from. Government officials only took our documents, but we still have not received any money. Now that the floods have settled, we have been left with no refuge, no job, and no farming land. The government delayed so much that the people went and borrowed money from others to rebuild their homes.
Ahmad is a resident of Gurieh, one of the suburbs of Shushtar. Like many other locals, he is living in the ruins of his home. There has been no effort to rebuild the homes, he says. Even though the people [of Gurieh] have returned to their homes, these places cannot be called homes. Farmers have missed the summer cultivation and have no water for agriculture.
The farmers who had insurance have still not received money for the damages. Rouhani speaks of the rebuilding of 20,000 homes in Khuzestan, but the examinations show that the repairs of only 120 homes have been completed.
Quoting an informed source, the publication writes, “The promises have not been kept. There has just been a preliminary examination of the damages, but no money has been paid.”
The same source named many villages where no renovation work has taken place, saying that the farmers have received nothing. Most of these villages don’t even have electricity.
According to the newspaper, one member of the Majlis (parliament) said, “Some of the farming lands are still submerged in water… 2,000 acres of land is still underwater, and even though the Energy Ministry has been notified, no action has taken place.”
