Defense of Environment Committee 1117 Announcement-Lack of flood crisis management

Flood Tsunami in Iran: Crisis management or management crisis

Without any doubt the flood is known as a natural disaster. But practically, the flood is considered as the most frightening natural disaster in the world in terms of environmental, life and financial damages.

The flood occurs when soil and plants fail to absorb precipitation and as the consequence the natural channel of the river does not have the same runoff throughput.

The main methods of flood control include not to seizures the natural Channels, the destruction of vegetation and rehabilitation of forests , the opening of flood barriers, dams, reservoirs and flood canals. Flood as one of the most destructive natural disasters in Iran can be caused by factors such as deforestation, land degradation, Ponds to farms transformation, increasing the waste which caused the recent flooding in Golestan, Mazandaran, Kermanshah, Fars and khouzestan provinces.Rivers and land beds invasion, destruction of natural resources and vegetation cover such as deforestation, human encroachment on nature and land usage, bad construction of bridges and roads on rivers and on the other sides droughts can be mentioned as the Other flood factors in Iran.

On the other hand, the large amount of under-ground water consumption and consecutive aridity has now put Iran into a drought situation. The rainfall situation indicates that the average annual rainfall of the country is about 250 mm, which is less than average rainfall in Asia and about one-third of the average annual rainfall in the world. On the other hand, 70 percent of the country’s Ponds are in dire straits.

According to the defense of environment committee 1117 announcement; the destruction of forests and pastures, the excessive grazing of livestock in upstream of the dams and blocking the majority of the country rivers with concrete walls is also one of the main causes of flooding in the country. According to the Environment Protection Agency, 74 percent of 421 flood cases from 1330 to 1380, occurred from 1360 to 1380. In between 1360 to 1380, flooding has increased 20 times, while there are not many changes in the area rainfalls but a few exceptions. And Of course, since then, there have been no further statistics! regarding to lack of flood crisis management; severe rain, flooding, landslides and mudslides in the Golestan, Mazandaran, Kermanshah, Fars and lorestan provinces in the early days of this year flood surprised the Iranian people. This provinces which are the destination of many new year travelers from different parts of Iran, underwent a different situation this year, which brought the hardship and bitterness to its people.

The flood, which has raised water height to two meters in some streets of cities and villages, has taken a toll on life in these areas, and killing hundreds of people. In the wake of sharp criticisms against the government’s weaknesses in handling the flood victims, The Rouhani government preferred to dismiss the Golestan Governor in order to put the whole thing down. Manaf Hashmi, who had traveled abroad in recent days has been dismissed by Eshagh Jahangiri.

The main reason for flooding is not the rain continuation but environmental damages are the main cause. One of the causes of the recent devastating floods is the daily destruction of 123 hectares of the forests. In 1395, the government carried out the forest breathing act to Parliament and demanded for the withdrawal of the deforestation. This act, which bans trade exploitation from the forests of Iran, known as the forest breathing plan was supposed to be implemented in the Sixth Plan of the Development, but was delayed by the passage through the Parliament and was postponed until the fourth year of the program. According to this plan, any exploitation of forest was forbidden for a 10 year breathing period. Now, after the occurrence of this disaster in the north, west and south-west provinces of Iran, the governmental media initially focused on the presence of the authorities like the deputy of the leadership and the chairman of the Iranian crisis management organization in this regions. Whereas, the unofficial reports from the provinces are indicating the high severity of the destruction and the negligence of the authorities to the flood victim citizens.

We, environment defenders of Defense of Human Rights Association in Iran according to the 3rd article of the Human Rights Universal Declaration (The right to life and security for all), 22nd Article of the Human Rights Universal Declaration (The right to Social Security) and 25th article of the Human Rights Universal Declaration (The right to food, housing and medical care and the necessary social services for everyone) will condemn these policies of the Iranian government and the Sepah Pasdaran, which lead to an unequal war between the government and the flood on one side and the people and their empty hands on the other side. The Islamic Republic of Iran Government not only is not concerned with the protection of environment as the Human heritage, but also sacrificed the environment in various forms (destruction of Ponds, forests and … ) for its political and economical purposes so that the climate change effects in Iran are occurring faster than usual, and has posed a serious threat to the citizens security, health, hygiene, water and food resources .