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Floods, lessons, consequences

Countries
Iran
Sources
IRNA
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Tehran, April 22, IRNA – The importance of institutionalization of participation and strengthening NGOs were clearly illustrated by the recent floods in Iran.

It is highly necessary that the local groups be strengthened to be able to counter probable crisis in the future.

Iran had rare precipitations in early spring 2019, throughout the country. They started in the north and the northeastern areas and then the west and southwestern regions. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) Managing Director Dr. Seyyed Zia Hashemi made a visit to the provinces of Khuzestan, Lorestan and Golestan alongside the reporters of IRNA and Iran Newspaper and talked to the flood-hit people and officials and got acquainted with their problems.

IRNA managing director has elaborated on his visit to Khuzestan province in an article published in the Persian-language Iran.

The following is the English translation of IRNA chief's Persian article:

First, the impacts of the floods are far too severe to be reflected in the media. The sufferings imposed on the people by the floods, widespread destruction of the infrastructures, the duty put on local, provincial and national authorities' shoulders, and numerous economic, social, and psychological consequences of the floods have affected and will continue to affect the lives of the people and duties of the authorities.

One should pay careful attention to the fact that the clandestine and long-term effects of the crisis are not less severe than the easily-seen and short-term ones. They will be recognized after meticulous long-term field observations and expert analyses.

Second, the circumstances of each region and province are unique; that is, it is essential that they should be taken into account meticulously. Undoubtedly, the conditions of Khuzestan, Lorestan, and Golestan provinces differ from each other and hence they need different managements.

Third, after the lever of flood waters go down, it is necessary to deal with the flood-stricken areas. The water is retreating from cities, towns, villages, farms and wilderness now, but rebuilding the damages caused by the floods will go on for months, especially in Khuzestan Province which had a harsher situation.

Fourth, it is highly necessary to encourage people to participate in reconstruction of the flood-hit regions. Institutionalization of participation and strengthening the non-governmental organizations is a vital step, which was clearly pictured during the floods. It is desirable that the local communities be empowered so that they will be able to react in case of such emergencies.

However, even in the recent floods, one could abundantly see unforgettable beautiful scenes of people's helping the flood-hit areas.

There are a lot of lessons to be learned from the recent floods in different parts of Iran, which will be discussed in the future notes.

*Written by Zia Hashemi, Islamic Republic News Agency chief, published in Farsi by Iran Newspaper on April 20

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