For a nation of nearly 90 million people, the limits of traditional water management have been laid bare. Whether Iran’s new strategies can avert wider social and ecological breakdown remains a central question for policymakers, communities, and neighbouring countries alike.
Beginning in December 2024 and ending in April 2025, La Niña is defined by the cooling of ocean surface temperatures, changes in wind and precipitation patterns, an increase in Atlantic hurricanes, drier conditions in the South, and wetter conditions in the Northwest.
According to the Meteorological Department, the period from September 1 to January 15 saw a drastic reduction in rainfall, with Sindh experiencing a 52 per cent decrease and Balochistan witnessing a 45 per cent shortfall.
UNICEF reports that eight in ten Afghans lack access to safe drinking water. Furthermore, over 64 per cent of the population is affected by drought, exacerbating food shortages and economic hardships.
For many refugees, the decision of whether to return involves weighing deep emotional ties to ancestral places against the practical realities of life.