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Protests Over Water Supplies Hit Iranian City Of Hamedan For Second Consecutive Day


People protest on the streets of Shahrekord on August 16. Demonstrations about water shortages have several parts of the country in recent weeks, including Hamedan in the west.
People protest on the streets of Shahrekord on August 16. Demonstrations about water shortages have several parts of the country in recent weeks, including Hamedan in the west.

Protesters in the western Iranian city of Hamedan have taken to the streets for the second day in a row to demonstrate against cuts in water supplies.

According to videos posted on social media on August 24, large crowds gathered holding placards criticizing government officials.

Security forces and special guards were reportedly dispatched to quell the protests.

One of the videos shows a woman being injured when police clashed with the protesters, but the extent of her injuries is not known.

Residents of Hamedan have been without drinking water for more than a week. During this time, water has been supplied through tanks placed on streets, the latest sign of the building pressure on the country as a water crisis intensifies along with the summer heat.

Several parts of the country have experienced water shortages -- and protests over the crisis -- in recent weeks, including the cities of Shahrekord in central Iran and Hamedan in the west.

Diminishing water supplies are seen as an existential threat to Iran, where poor water management, drought, and corruption-ridden infrastructure projects have contributed to water scarcity and resulting protests across the country in recent years.

Experts say climate change has amplified the droughts and floods plaguing Iran and that their intensity and frequency in turn threaten food security.

The Iranian Meteorological Organization has estimated that 97 percent of the country is experiencing drought to some degree.

Mismanagement by authorities has also been cited as a main cause for the water crisis.

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda

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