Radio Zamaneh - August 3, 2015
Masoud Tajrishi, head of the scientific task force of the Lake Urmia Revival Headquarters, says that the increase in cancer and respiratory diseases in local communities is a consequence of the drying of Lake Urmia.
Tajrishi stated today, August 3, that in 2014, 88 people were tested on the Islamic Island, one of the islands in Lake Urmia. The results showed that 18 of them had respiratory diseases.
According to Tajrishi, these diseases are the effects and consequences of the lake drying up, which are beginning to manifest gradually in local communities.
A few months ago, Alireza Seyed Gharishi, an official of the Environmental Protection Organization of West Azerbaijan, warned about the complete drying of Lake Urmia and the emergence of respiratory and new diseases in the region.
Frost damage is another consequence Tajrishi lists for the drying of Lake Urmia, saying: “The lake used to balance the hot and cold weather in the region, but now that the lake has dried up, there is no longer a source to absorb the cold air’s energy. As a result, the winter is colder and the summer hotter.”
He also mentioned the salinization of agricultural soils and dust storms caused by the dried lakebed as another "disaster" that is gradually unfolding. He warned that without sufficient awareness among the local government and the people, "a dark future awaits the inhabitants of the region."
Tajrishi further states: "In the city of Tabriz, about five million people live. If the lake dries up, they will need to be relocated, which would require thousands of billions of dollars."
The head of the scientific task force of the Lake Urmia Revival Headquarters also mentioned that in the current water year (from October to September), 135 million cubic meters of water from upstream dams have been directed to Lake Urmia, with plans to direct more water to the lakebed in February.
Many critics and experts in the fields of water and the environment also believe that the government’s neglect of water management in the northwest provinces of Iran over several years is the main cause of the Lake Urmia crisis.
Excessive water extraction from the Lake Urmia watershed and the digging of wells for agricultural expansion are the main reasons for the declining water level in the lake.
If Lake Urmia completely dries up, at least five million people will be directly affected by its consequences, while many more in other provinces will suffer indirect impacts.
Currently, the drying process of Lake Urmia has accelerated, with over 93% of its water dried up, leaving only 7% of this international wetland remaining.
The link to the original news in Farsi from Radio Zamaneh: https://www.radiozamaneh.com/230936