Nazanin Zaghari
Years of drought in Iran have left rivers, lakes and reservoirs drained and water supplies severely affected. Worst hit are the provinces in eastern Iran, particularly Sistan-Baluchistan where hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees are living.
The urgent water needs of the refugees and vulnerable Iranians in Sistan-Baluchistan led the Federation to issue emergency appeals in 2000, 2002 and 2005. Continual assessment of the repatriation process and people’s needs meant the Federation could continually adapt the assistance programme and prevent an escalation of the humanitarian and health problems.
“Here in Sistan-Baluchistan, water supply is the biggest concern for refugees,” explained Baridad Nourzehi, one of the programme beneficiaries. “When we were almost dying from lack of water, the Red Cross and Red Crescent started the water trucking operation in 2000. It really was life-giving water. The project was later combined with various sanitation and health campaigns. These programmes saved people like us from diseases and the lack of water – they were really vital to our survival.”
The Federation programmes comprised several components alongside the supply of safe drinking water. These included public awareness campaigns to prevent water-borne diseases and improve hygiene, community-based preventive health and hygiene promotion, the training of traditional birth attendants and community health workers and public health education.
Following an evaluation in May 2004, the Federation and the Iranian Red Crescent began a planned phase-out of the programme and turned their attention to providing a sustainable solution through building eight permanent water distribution stations. ECHO and the United Arab Emirate Red Crescent provided financial support.
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day on 8 May saw the handing over of four of these water distribution stations to the local authorities. Among those attending the official ceremony were governmental and non-governmental representatives. These included the Head of the Provincial Emergency Task Force, the Director General of the Provincial Water and Sewage Company, representatives from Zahedan Municipality and Province Governor General's office, and the heads of Action against Hunger, Médecins Sans Frontières and UNHCR sub-offices in Zahedan.
“The Federation and the Iranian Red Crescent really take care of disaster-affected people by looking for short- and long-term solutions to the problems they face,” said Dr Seyed Gholam Hussein Husseini, Director General of the Iranian Red Crescent Provincial Branch. “Now people have free and round-the-clock access to water. They will no longer suffer from water shortages no matter how long the repatriation process drags on.”
Amir Abdollahpour Makouei, Senior Programme Officer of the Iran Delegation, highlighted that the construction of the water stations was a symbol of close cooperation with the local authorities in assisting people in need. “We are very happy that the water company, with the support of the local authorities, has now taken over responsibility for running the water stations to supply safe drinking water,” he said.
The Federation Delegation and the Sistan-Baluchistan Provincial Branch also celebrated World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day with an exhibition. On display were photographs, books, pamphlets and posters showing Federation and Iranian Red Crescent activities.