Although the recent flood and torrential rains caused a lot of destruction and ensued immense material losses in Iran, they further cemented solidarity and cooperation among Iranians from every stratum.
In recent decades, the rise of various natural disasters all over the world and the high rate of losses and casualties have made experts more attentive toward the issue. Natural disasters hinder economic and social development, and the more severe they are, the more development programs will be slowed down. According to international statistics, climatic changes have increased natural disasters more than four times since 1970s. The result has been more than $240 billion of financial damage to inhabitants of different regions.
Due to its geographical location, Iran is among the 10 countries that are prone to natural disasters. This has caused considerable financial losses due to floods, earthquakes, droughts, storms and so on. About 86% of Iran's area is located in a quake-prone zone, and given that a large amount of the GDP is used to compensate for natural disasters, tackling and reduction of natural disasters through proper planning is of paramount importance.
As the Iranians were engaged in celebrating the New Year ceremonies and enjoying the beauties of spring in various parts of the country, it began raining in most regions making the people happier. The rain, however, turned into torrents within a few days and resulted in flood in the city of Shiraz and the provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, Eilam, Lorestan, Khuzestan and so on. The flood was unexpectedly destructive especially in Golestan and Lorestan provinces. Many people became homeless, few of them lost their loved ones and many people suffered material losses and spiritual injuries.
Scientists and specialists argue that human meddling in nature has been the main cause of damages and destruction to this divine bounty. They believe that in the past, the scale of human meddling in nature was negligible on the one hand; while he lacked the ability and equipment to prevent natural calamities such as flood. On the contrary, today we possess the technological and scientific advances to reduce the consequences of natural disasters; while many of these disasters result from inordinate meddling and manipulations of human beings in nature. In other words, inappropriate usage of natural resources such as deforestation has changed the configuration of the earth to the detriment of the flora and fauna and mankind. Destruction of forests and pastures, inappropriate development activities, intense soil erosion due to continuous droughts are some of the main factors that turn torrential rains into destructive flood.
There is no doubt that natural disasters such as earthquake, flood and forest fires have very harmful consequences, but regardless of the causes of these painful incidents, can you imagine that these disasters would be beneficial for other species?
For example, flood not only creates fertile lands, it can also create greeneries. They can help transfer fish to rivers and lakes, thereby biodiversity is revived in flood-hit regions. Even storms and typhoons spill over heat on the surface of the earth, preventing the heat from reaching tropical areas.
One of the benefits of such incidents is to awaken human conscience and remove indifference among human beings. Once man finds himself in tough conditions as a result of natural calamities while he cannot do anything and he has lost every tool to protect himself or his relatives and friends, he understands that how weak he is. At this moment his attention is focused toward a superior power who is above all powers. Then he submits to Him and wants Him to take his hand with His infinite power to save him from the disaster.
The feeling of sympathy and altruism is the most important benefit of natural disasters. People from all walks of life rush to help the disaster-stricken community. Natural disasters are the divine warnings to say that we are not supposed to stay in the world for ever.
National solidarity is a very great divine bounty among the Iranian nation. As soon as the news was released on the flood, many people got ready to help their compatriots. Among these selfless efforts the endeavours of the army, the IRGC, Basij and other voluntary forces were more significant and effective in alleviating the pains of the beleaguered people. They made their efforts in the fastest way to reduce the problems of the people.
From the early hours of the flood, responsibilities were designated to the relevant persons and bodies to accelerate the process of relief work. The flood in Shiraz, which claimed the life of 19 people and injured nearly 100 others, was the scene of spontaneous assistance by other people and bystanders. The inhabitants of Shiraz warmly welcomed the travelers who had been hit by flood and had lost their cars. They provided them food and shelter at their houses free of charge.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: "In fact, all these natural events are a test of God, and a decent Muslim is the one who compensates when the event happens through power, effort and activity. The test does not mean an experiment for God to recognize us; or an experiment for us to know ourselves. It is neither of these. A test is rather a phase and facing a heavy load. A test is a pass on the path. You either cross this pass, or will remain behind it. It is no other way round. The calamities of the world are like heavy loads that are on your shoulders. Almighty God puts tests on the path of people and nations, so that these nations take these loads, cross through the passes; thereby reach lofty positions and are placed in the status that they deserve."
In fact, God's test is like the work of an experienced gardener who sprinkles seeds on a favorable land. These seeds begin to grow, confront obstacles and, in the face of deadly storms and burning heat, they strive to create a beautiful flower branch or a robust tree that can survive vis-à-vis harsh accidents.
In the recent flood which engulfed several provinces, the Iranian nation showed sympathy and solidarity with their firm resolve to get out of the current situation and restore calm to flood-hit people. Even the people of Kermanshah province who had experienced the bitter days of homelessness and suffering in the destructive trembler of 2017, didn’t hesitate to extend their assistance to the flood-stricken people in different regions, especially those of Golestan province. Undoubtedly, the distressed people of Kermanshah province will never forget the magnanimity of their fellow-countrymen who hadn't left them alone at the time of the earthquake.
Another blessing of the recent flood in different parts of the country was that it exposed the US regime in its real attire. The United States, always tries to masquerade as the flag-bearer of human rights and the beacon of human values in the world. But as soon as some of the international bodies and persons in other countries announced their readiness to send money to the flood-torn people in Iran, the US regime blocked Iran's Red Crescent Society accounts, whereas it is the body for receiving international donations.
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