The head of the Hoveyzeh environmental department warns that without the release of water from the Karkheh Dam, the Iranian part of the Hoor al-Azim wetland will be destroyed by fire.
According to ISNA news agency, Mohammad Saki, head of the Hoveyzeh Environmental Protection Department, highlighted the ongoing fires in the Iraqi part of the Hoor al-Azim wetland and warned of the risk of fires in the Iranian part if its water rights are not secured.
He stated that so far about 20 to 25 thousand hectares of the Iraqi section of the wetland have burned, and the smoke from these fires has intensified in the Dasht-e Azadegan and Hoveyzeh areas. According to Saki, the health network has reported that some citizens have visited medical centers due to respiratory problems.
He added that an Iranian firefighting aircraft was stationed in Khuzestan province for a few days and conducted water-dropping operations in the area, but emphasized that the fundamental solution to control the crisis is the release of water from Iraq and securing the wetland’s water rights.
He also stated that if the release of water from the Karkheh Dam does not continue, the Iranian section will face the risk of aquatic life loss and fires.