Drowning of Baluch Children in Hootegs
Hootegs in Baluchistan are constantly getting victims. Children constitute the majority of victims. ” Hooteg” in the Baluch language means large pits in the heart of the earth to store seasonal rains, which are used for drinking or irrigation. Hooteg is a native water supply system that has been very important for the villagers’ livelihood due to the lack of modern plumbing and reservoirs. Unfortunately, these hootegs have become the altar of Baluch children.
- On May 14, 2022, three people drowned in a hooteg in Salurbazar village of Dashtiari county, including two children.
- On May 20, 2022, Sajedeh Bakhshan, an 11-year-old girl from Zahrap village in Chabahar, who had gone to a hooteg to have three goats drink water, fell into the ditch and drowned.
- On July 28, 2021, Athena, a four-year-old child, slipped while playing in Jamatzehi village, Chabahar city, fell into a hooteg and drowned.
- On May 29, 2019, three elementary school students, Munira Khedmati, Maryam Khedmati, and Yasra Delshab from Kemobazar village in Chabahar city, who had gone to fetch water, fell into the hooteg and drowned.
- On July 29, 2022, Mahmoud Badfar, a young Baluch child from Lalobazar village in Plan section of Chabahar, died after falling into a hooteg.
- On August 1, 2022, Salman Brahui, a seven-year-old child laborer from Nusratabad, Zahedan city, died after falling into a water pit dug by the municipality.
- On August 3, 2022, a 15-year-old Baluch teenager named Ismail Chalaki drowned and died after falling into an water reservoir in the village of Kohen Karamshah in the districts of Sib and Soran in Sarawan.
- On August 5, 2022, a 15-year-old Baluch girl named Motahera Chakeri from Jaleq, Golshan city, in Sarawan drowned in the Kalegan river and died.
- On August 9, 2022, a 4-year-old Baluch child died after falling into a water pit in the Telang district of Qasrqand city.
- On August 17, 2022, five children and teenagers from the city of Pishen drowned in the Sarbaz River and under the entrance bridge of Pishen. Following this incident, two female children also died due to drowning.
These are just a few examples of the tragic cases of Baluch children’s drowning in recent years.
Accurate statistics of the number of annual deaths of hootegs have not yet been published. Chabahar city alone has 1075 hootegs, most of which need fencing. Apart from promises, the provincial officials have not taken any action for safe and sanitary water supply.
Water supply by tanker is done incompletely in Bluchestan. The government does not have a plan for the rural plumbing system and the repair of hootegs, which means that in the future, we will have unfortunate and frequent news of the death of children in Baluchestan.
The villages of Baluchestan need a modern pipelines, and a stable and reliable water supply. Seasonal rains should be stored in well-equipped, sanitary reservoirs with safety fences. Existing hootegs should be identified, improved, and secured by providing an atlas. We demand the government officials to show sensitivity to the constant and heartbreaking news of the death of Baluch children in hootegs and end this tragedy as soon as possible by providing funds and facilities.
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An 11-year-old Baluch girl fell into a hooteg and died.
An 11-year-old Baluch girl, Shahrbanu Sanjari (Nohani), tragically died after falling into a water storage pit. On Sunday, March 17, 2024, Baluch activists reported that the incident occurred in Dampag village, Dashtiari city, Baluchistan. Shahrbanu, a third-grade primary school student, had gone to the village pit to wash clothes when she accidentally fell in and drowned.
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Sarfraz Gargij, 12-year-old
On February 13, 2024, a child drowned and died after falling into a water storage pit in Dashtiari city. The identity of this child is Sarfraz Gargij, 12-year-old son of Abdul Sattar. According to this report, this child fell into one of these pits and drowned due to the lack of proper fencing around the water storage pits.
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Thoban Baluch 4 years old
On February 5, 2024, a four-year-old child died of drowning after falling into a ditch in Balعchi village of Chabahar city. The identity of this child, Thoban Balعch, who is about four years old and the son of Jamil (Junaid) from Balعchi village in Chabahar city, has been confirmed.
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جمعی از کنشگران بلوچ started this petition
بلوچستان جزوی از خاک ایران است و هر شهروند بلوچ حق یک زندگی استاندار با معیارهای بهداشتی و حقوقی دارد.