| Abstrakt: |
Since ancient times, our country has been grappling with water resource limitations, particularly in the eastern regions, due to the arid climate. Water has become a critical geopolitical resource as a result of the increasing demands of the population and the scarcity of water. As a result, studies on hydropolitics explore a variety of dimensions and aspects of the impact of water fluctuations on geographical territories. The impact on population dynamics and alterations in the affected regions is a noteworthy consequence. This article investigates the impact of fluctuations in water rights for the Hirmand River on migration patterns and population variations in Sistan. It employs data from censuses, surveys (with a sample size of 400), and semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed a significant decrease in Iran’s water rights volume since the early 2000s, with a particularly precipitous decline in recent years. Furthermore, the national average was met by the population development in Sistan until 2006. However, from 2006 onwards, while the country's population continued to grow, Sistan experienced a decrease due to high emigration rates. Emigration from Sistan, particularly to other provinces, has more than quadrupled over the past three decades. The preponderance of migrants from Sistan migrate to Razavi Khorasan, Golestan, Yazd, Tehran, and South Khorasan. Additionally, the results suggested that more than half of the survey respondents expressed a desire to migrate from the Sistan region as a result of factors such as unemployment, desertification, and a lack of job opportunities. This tendency is especially pronounced among never-married individuals and those higher education levels. Consequently, the economy and livelihoods of the residents of Sistan have been significantly influenced by water. Widespread migrations, population displacement, and ultimately the depopulation of certain settlements in Sistan are probable if Iran's water rights from the Hirmand River are not met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
