Drought threatens way of life for Iran’s Kurdish nomads

KERMANSHAH, Iran — Drought is threatening the way of life for nomads in Iran's Kurdish province of Kermanshah.

For winter, a number of families set up their tents in the remote area between Ezgeleh and Sarpol Zahab. Comparatively warm, nomads move to the area during the cold months.

However, shortages in the local supply of water has rendered their ancient way of life increasingly difficult.

To support the continued existence of their traditions in the area, nomads are calling on the Iranian government to provide them with basic services.

“There is no water this year thanks to this drought,” nomad Ibrahim Nadri told Rudaw on Wednesday. “Our tractors have to go get water from other places. They charge us 50,000 tomans for a tanker of water, for 5,000 litres of water.”

“We urge the authorities to resolve this water crisis for us,” he added, also calling on the government to repair roads.

Kurdish nomads in western Iran usually travel with their herds around the isolated mountain region.

It straddles the shared border with Turkey and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The Iranian government strictly controls where the families are allowed to live and herd their animals, determined to stop livestock from crossing international frontiers.

Some in the community worry that changes to their way of life will lead to a deterioration of their culture.

“I do not speak Farsi. We are Kurds and do not want to forget our Kurdish language,” nomad Frishta Nadri told Rudaw on Wednesday.

Translation by Zhelwan Z. Wali

Video editing by Sarkawt Mohammed