Residents in Iran’s city of Divandarreh in the western Kurdistan province known as Rojhilat, have taken to the streets to demand access to water, after the most recent cuts lasted for days.
The demonstrators were met with a heavy handed response from Iranian forces, including the use of tear gas. Hengaw human rights organisation reported that at least four protesters were injured in the the crackdown.
The situation has rapidly deteriorated as the city grapples with weeks of intermittent water cuts, leaving residents without access to clean drinking water.
Experts attribute the escalating water crisis in Iran to the compounding effects of global climate change and shortcomings in water management by the Islamic Republic.
According to Iran International, water reservoirs across the country have reached critically low levels, with 270 cities and towns experiencing acute water shortages, an Iranian official confirmed in January.