Water from Afghanistan reaches Iran

From RFE/RL Iran Report Volume 5, Number 40
Water from the Helmand (Hirmand) River in Afghanistan reached Iran on 25 October, Iranian Energy Ministry official Hussein Ali Eshraki told AP on 28 October, "but the flow of water is so low that it can't revive the region's agriculture. It's only sufficient for drinking." Eshraki said that if the water level does not increase, it could not revive Sistan va Baluchistan Province's Lake Hamun. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Assefi on 28 October said that the water's arrival in Iran was a great success for the Islamic Republic, IRNA reported. IRNA described on 20 October a sandstorm in the provincial capital, Zabol, that reduced visibility to less than 100 meters. Provincial Roads and Transportation Organization Director Shamseddin Sargazi said, "The sandstorm, triggered by the drying up of Lake Hamun, had strongly affected the traffic on Zabol road, which bypasses the lake." Moreover, the provincial Meteorological Department reported that locals have been forced to wear masks as protection against the dust in the air. (Bill Samii)