Khuzestan announces state of emergency in flood-hit cities
April 19, 2019 - Khuzestan’s Province announced a state of emergency in the flood-hit cities of Abadan, Khorramshahr and Shadegan due to strong tide.
“Given to the possibility of rising water from Saturday, we have taken all necessary measures to deal with any increase in water volume in Arvandrood and Karoun rivers,” Khorramshahr Governor Kourosh Maveddat said on Friday.
Several cities in the southwestern province of Khuzestan have been hit by severe floods that have stricken the country since March 19.
Record spring rainfall that has battered Iran in the past weeks caused serious flooding in many areas, mainly the provinces of Golestan, Lorestan, Khuzestan, Fars and Ilam, forcing thousands to leave their homes.
While residents in some western areas are still in need of relief aid, Iran’s Armed Forces have deployed forces, heavy military machinery, aircraft and boats to the disaster zones.
Following the unprecedented floods in northern, western and southwestern Iran that killed nearly 80 people, several countries and international organizations rushed to help the flood-stricken people.
A UNICEF report said on Friday that the devastating flooding in three-quarters of Iran’s provinces has affected 10 million people, of whom two million are severely impacted and 500,000 displaced – half of them children.
Over 1,000 health facilities and 1,000 schools have been destroyed or severely damaged forcing 100,000 children out of school and depriving thousands of essential health care, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said.
UNICEF’s vaccine cold chain equipment, including 200 vaccine carriers and 100 cold boxes, arrived in the country on Thursday night, according to the report.
The equipment will help restore essential immunization services for children in affected provinces and prevent the spread of diseases. Eighty vaccine refrigerators have also been dispatched.
The needs of flood-affected children in Iran are getting more acute by the day and more supplies are urgently needed, according to the report.
To provide emergency assistance to flood-affected children in Iran, UNICEF has appealed for US$9.8 million. To date, UNICEF is facing a US$8 million funding gap. Additional child health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies will be purchased once funding is secured, the report said.
“Contributions made into accounts recently established for the flood response will allow UNICEF to procure essential supplies from our overseas supply hubs and transport them into Iran,” the UN agency stated.