Iran: More Than 150 Killed In Flash Flooding – OpEd

Heavy flooding continued in Iran on Tuesday March, 26, 2019 as 30 provinces geared up for days of a sudden disaster.

The regime hides the true number of victims and insists on efforts by repressive organs to contain popular anger at the negligence of authorities. Iranian people outraged by the government’s mismanagement of devastating floods.

At least 30 of Iran’s 31 provinces witnessed flood conditions on Monday as reports indicate at least 120 dead in the city of Shiraz alone. News from other cities shows a very bleak image of innocent people left without any support. Shiraz is one of the worst-hit regions. At least 120 people have been reported dead as a result of flash floods pouring into the city. Videos show cars with passengers being carried away by water torrents. At least 200 vehicles have been destroyed by the floods.
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The mayor of Shiraz declared that the city would be flooded again on Tuesday morning. Videos obtained from the city indicate floodwaters pouring into the city’s streets again.

The disaster, struck in the middle of Iranian New Year holidays, with many relief workers and authorities on vacation.

Floods that began in northern parts of Iran earlier in the month are quickly propagating to other areas in Iran. At least 30 provinces have been affected by the floods. The worst-hit provinces include those on the shores of Caspian Sea, the skirts of the Zagros mountain range, central and southern Iran.

In Lorestan province, heavy rainfall quickly turned into flash floods, submerging large parts of the province, including Khoramabad, the province’s capital. Khoramabad is reported to be in an especially critical condition. The Khoramabad-Pol Dokhtar and Andimeshk-Pol Dokhtar roads have been blocked by flood water. At least 22 vital interstate highways have been blocked by floods.

Floods continue in Golestan province, northern Iran. Gorgan Airport has been flooded. In Khuzestan, floods have covered large parts of Arvandkenar.

In Sistan Baluchistan, several vital roads have been submerged by the floods.

So far, the Iranian regime is refraining from declaring official stats on the damages caused by the floods. Mismanagement by the government has exacerbated the situation and relief efforts are mostly being carried out by local activists and the people.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, extended her condolences to the families of the flood victims and called on the courageous youth of Iran to help their disaster-stricken compatriots.

Mrs. Rajavi stressed that the mullahs’ regime, its corrupt leaders and the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) have intensified the effects of this destructive flood through by destroying the environment. The mullahs have rendered the Iranian cities and villages to ruins by plundering the people’s belongings and wasting them in projects of repression, terrorism and warmongering as well as anti-Iranian nuclear and missile programs, depriving them of the least infrastructure to defend against natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, Mrs. Rajavi emphasized.
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Instead of sending aid to Iran Flood victims, the authorities dispatch BTR armored vehicles to the flood-hit areas. Deputy Commander of Iran’s police said that their main priority was to uphold “security.” So they are there to quell any anti-government protests

Can you believe this? Instead of sending aid to Iran Flood victims, the Iranian regime has entered tanks into the city of Shiraz to quell any anti-government protests that may occur as a result of their inaction towards helping those affected by the flood.
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There is no official aid, but the people and the courageous youths in resistance units in cities, went to the flood-stricken areas, to help their fellow countrymen.

In all the countries, the national army and the guards are sent to help people in flooding or other natural disasters. In Iran, the police, the Basij and IRGC are sent to make sure people don’t start protesting the conditions! That is why the resistance units decided to interfere and help the flood-hit people.

*Hassan Mahmoudi is a human rights advocate and Social Media journalist seeking democracy for Iran and peace for the region.