We
can define poverty as the deficiency in the basic necessities of life.
In fact, and to make it simple enough to understand, we can say that
poverty is lack of food, shelter, and not having a good healthcare
system. Poverty is the inability to attend school, and failure to get a
job. Powerlessness and suppression also relates to poverty in a way or
another. In Al-Ahwaz, where a large number of its population is
struggling to survive, poverty is frightful, common, long-lasting and
destructive.
Under
the Iranian occupation and since 1925, Iranian national strategies are
not relevant to poverty reduction and they even stress the upsurge of
poverty in the Arab neighborhoods of Al-Ahwaz. Currently, in Al-Ahwaz,
poverty is affecting more than 90% of the citizens. The Ahwazi community
is suffering from the extreme need of necessities of life, and it has
been seen obvious in every corner of major streets of the capital city
of Al-Ahwaz and the surrounding towns and villages. In every corner of
the streets of Al-Ahwaz, the elderly is begging for money, the young
generations are jobless, and children are selling cigarettes and gums.
The sick person can’t afford seeing the doctor, and children can’t
afford attending school, this is if there was a school in their
district.
The
condition of houses, buildings, schools, shopping centers etc., is not
better than the standard of living in Alahwaz. All cities and villages
in Al ahwaz are neglected, nothing is renovated. Alahwaz is known for
being the hottest area during the hot summer days, but usually winter is
very short, and it would pass by without causing natural disasters.
Even though Alahwaz is not known as a land of disasters, little rain
could cause floods in the streets affecting poor and rich areas. Many
of us have noticed the pictures of flooded streets in many areas in
Alahwaz, even in richest areas, (let alone the damaged poor areas which
became worse after the rain and flood) on Ahwazi websites, personal
weblogs and social pages such as YouTube and Facebook, reflecting the
flood that hit Alahwaz in November, 2012 . By all being said, I want to
draw the attention of all individuals concerned about the health and
wellness of citizens living in Alahwaz. I have pasted a picture of the
flooded area, as well as the original source, where you can find more
pictures.
Maryam Abdulhamid
