Iran: major demonstration in Isfahan after the drying up of the Zayandeh Roud river

Demonstration in Isfahan, in central Iran, after the river dried up due to the drought and the diversion of this stream.

This massive gathering attracted farmers but also other people from all over the province.

The largest gathering since the protests began on November 9.

Isfahan, November 19, 2021 © Fatmeh Nasr / ISNA / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated this Friday, November 19, 2021 in Isfahan, the historic city of Iran, against the shortage of agricultural water due to the drought and the drying up of an emblematic river located in the center from the country.

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With our correspondent in Tehran,

In the videos posted on social media, a huge crowd can be seen gathered in the bed of the Zayandeh Roud River, which runs through the city of Isfahan.

The peasants of the region have set up tents in the dry bed of the river.

The demonstrators launched slogans against the country's authorities.

For two decades, the river in the capital of ancient Persia had problems, but this year the situation worsened with a drought unprecedented in fifty years.

In addition to the drought that is hitting Iran, some of the water from this river is sent upstream to other parts of the south of the country.

This accentuates the anger of the demonstrators and the peasants, who do not have water for their culture this fall.

Demonstration of anger in Iran over the drying up of a vital river due to the drought and the diversion of the river.

Isfahan, November 19, 2021 © Fatmeh Nasr / ISNA / AFP

Climate change is hitting Iran hard.

According to the authorities, the reserves of the dams built upstream are very limited and there is water only for two months.

Identical demonstrations took place last July in Khuzestan province and the intervention of the police killed several people at the time.

President Raïssi has promised to solve the Isfahan problem.

However, the authorities have few resources in the face of an unprecedented drought affecting all the provinces in the south, but also in the northeast of the country.

In fact, precipitation has decreased by 50% this year.

Experts foresee a worsening of the situation in the coming years, with social conflicts, but also displacement of the population from the southern regions to the north, less affected by the drought.

► To reread: The files await Ebrahim Raïssi, the Iranian population awaits change

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• Iran

• Environment

• Water

• Agriculture and Fishing

• Weather

• Climate change