Sistan

© Ali Hamed Haghdoust - Image from the Sistan photography project © Ali Hamed Haghdoust - Image from the Sistan photography project © Ali Hamed Haghdoust - Image from the Sistan photography project View all images ↓
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Sistan is located in the most eastern part of Iran and north of Sistan and Baluchistan province neighboring Afghanistan. This region consisted of central part, Hamoon, Hirmand, Nimrooz and Zabol is its capital.

Sistan is located in the most eastern part of Iran and north of Sistan and Baluchistan province neighboring Afghanistan. This region consisted of central part, Hamoon, Hirmand, Nimrooz and Zabol is its capital. People of this region are Sistani who speak the Sistani Persian language and are generally Shias or Baluch, who speak the Baluchi language and are generally Sunni. Hamoon, one of the biggest lakes in Iran and the source of blessing for these people, is suffering and dying as a result of frequent and severe droughts and cutoff the water flow from Hirmand river into the lake during these years. Combination of drought and the spread of desertification, not only has turned Hamoon to an environmental threat, but also makes social and economic problems for Sistani people leaving them in poverty and unemployment.

The lake was the source of income for Sistani fishermen with tones of fishes, but now is just a shelter for abandoned boats and fishing nets. Seasonal winds blow fine sands off its bed and make breathing hard for people. Even though the rainfall caused the water flow to Hamoon beginning of this spring, but most of it would evaporate as a result of summer heat and wind of 120 days. All the above-mentioned issues resulted in the abandonment of many villages as people migrate and leave their homes in search of water in other cities. And now, only 20 thousand hectare of 60 thousand hectare of the lands is being used.

© Ali Hamed Haghdoust - Image from the Sistan photography project
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In this picture taken on Sunday, March 13, 2016, Sarhaddi Mirhossein village located in the central part of Zabol, Sistani farmer, Gholamhossein Abbaszadeh Sarhaddi, 70, is standing in front of his house. He says: Our biggest problem is the lack of water. Our farm dried up due to drought and all our efforts are squandered. 20000 Tomans hourly fee for tractor is doubling our difficulties. We lost the slight amount of water because the governments transferred it to Zahedan, and then were deprived of the water which was supplied from Afghanistan as a result of the government's inattention and not paying the costs. The Life in Sistan depends on water completely and now because of the drought, not only will we get into trouble, but also Sistan will be destroyed.

© Ali Hamed Haghdoust - Image from the Sistan photography project
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In this picture taken on Sunday, March 13, 2016, Tappeh Dez village located in the central part of Zabol, farmers try to set up a water pump to transfer the water in order to irrigating their field. They say: we grow barley, garlic, onion and etc, But all of our efforts are squandered due to the drought. The slight amount of water transferred from Afghanistan gets dried up after a few days and it does not solve any of our problems. Moreover, the dust storm is a double whammy.

© Ali Hamed Haghdoust - Image from the Sistan photography project
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In this picture taken on Sunday, March 13, 2016, Deh Arbab village located near Banjar region in outskirts of Zabol, a general view shows a dried farm around the village. The major requirements for growing wheat are water supplied from rain or artificial lakes, good weather and proper fertilizer. But in case of heat and drought, all products will be destroyed.

© Ali Hamed Haghdoust - Image from the Sistan photography project
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In this picture taken on Monday, March 14, 2016, The forth Chah Nimeh artificial lake located near the Zahak city, Sistani fisherman, Reza Ebrahimi, 60 is standing in front of his straw house, he says: I’ve been fishing for 25 years in Hamoon lake before the drought and now in Chah Nimeh. We’ve been dealing with the problems and unemployment. The government does not answer about not handling our bad situation. Do they want the fishermen to leave here? God knows.

© Ali Hamed Haghdoust - Image from the Sistan photography project
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In this picture taken on Friday, March 11, 2016, Rashid village located in the central part of Zabol, head to- toe veiled women stand in the yard of their house, as they talk about the problems of their life in Zabol region. She says: I am really tired of living with a lot of problems. My husband was a farmer before, lost his job due to the drought and now he is unemployed.

© Ali Hamed Haghdoust - Image from the Sistan photography project
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In this picture taken on Saturday, March 12, 2016, Khamrabad-e Mirzang village located near Zabol, a man crosses in front of a drawing that shows the face of a Sistani man.

© Ali Hamed Haghdoust - Image from the Sistan photography project
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In this picture taken on Saturday, March 12, 2016, Rezajowr village located near Zabol, Sistani men spend their time with playing "Gulle Bazi" or playing marbles. Sistani youth and men stand in the entrance of their village and anytime playing together because of unemployment.

© Ali Hamed Haghdoust - Image from the Sistan photography project
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In this picture taken on Sunday, March 13, 2016, Deh Arbab village located near Banjar region in outskirts of Zabol, a mentally disabled boy sits on the ground at a playing field outside the village.

© Ali Hamed Haghdoust - Image from the Sistan photography project
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In this picture taken on Thursday, March 17, 2016, a Sistani man rides his motorcycle along a way through the dried lake of Hamoon near the mount of Khajeh 30 km from southwest of Zabol. Number of tourists who visit the mount Khajeh and Hamoon lake is decreasing since the drought. Hamoon which was the source of joy and vitality, has dried up since 17 years ago. Hamoon as the source of haze and dust storm has caused all the environmental problems in the region. These days not only is Hamoon experiencing drought, but also the people are suffering from lung diseases too. The lake as the lung of Sistan influences our lives in many ways and would make more troubles in result of global warming and greenhouse gases.

© Ali Hamed Haghdoust - Image from the Sistan photography project
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In this picture taken on Friday, March 11, 2016, Ghal'e Now village located 26km from southeast of Zabol and 5 km from Zahak city. General view of the village with traditional and unique texture that can be seen from the top of the hill. Most of the houses are abandoned in result of forced migration and has been destroyed over time. Ghal'e Now is the only village in Sistan and Baluchistan which its houses are completely built of mud in the old characteristic style. Most of the old houses in Sistan and Baluchistan are made of traditional materials including water and mud inspired by eastern architecture.