A/HRC/40/24 outskirts of major urban centres because they are unable to make a living in their home towns.72 In these areas, 35 per cent of the population live in impromptu settlements, with limited access to public services and employment opportunities. 73 In its comments, the Government stated its determination to take positive measures for an optimal and modern use of water. 31. Protests around access to water have increased, with at least 12 demonstrations reported in Khuzestan Province alone. On 29 May 2018, in the city of Bavi, farmers gathered to protest against water scarcity. 74 On 29 June, protests in Khorramshahr lasted for three days. On the third day, protests spread to the cities of Abadan, Kut-e Abdollah and Ahvaz. One Member of Parliament declared that the failure to benefit from the province’s resources, and issues such as pollution and water scarcity, had fuelled the protests. 75 The Government stated in its comments that these protests had ended through mediation and that the few individuals arrested had immediately been released. 32. Clashes between the authorities and protestors during some of the protests were widely reported, with the authorities using tear gas to disperse the crowds. 76 Officials stated that 11 people had been injured in that context, 77 and that 10 protestors had been detained and 35 were under investigation.78 Also, 15 representatives were arrested when 200 farmers presented themselves to the Governorate of Kohgiluyeh va Boyer Ahmad Province to protest against water diversion. 79 Isfahan farmers renewed their protests in October and November 2018.80 Right to health 33. The Secretary-General is concerned by the increasing impact of the water crisis on the right to health. 81 Untreated wastewater and sewage are increasingly contaminating drinking and agricultural water supplies while less than 40 per cent of Iranians have access to proper wastewater treatment facilities. 82 The Islamic Republic of Iran is also among the top five countries using untreated sewage for the irrigation of agricultural land, which can generate contagious diseases, such as cholera.83 34. Inefficiencies in water management have also exacerbated health issues caused by air pollution and sand and dust storms. In recent years, the World Health Organization has listed many Iranian cities as some of the most polluted in the world, including Zabol (in Sistan va Balushistan Province) and Ahvaz (in Khuzestan Province). 84 Many Ahvaz residents suffer from various medical conditions due to air pollution. 85 Sand and dust storms are particularly prevalent in Khuzestan, with environmentalists linking them to river 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 Ibid. See www.iribnews.ir/fa/news/1581533/35. See www.hra-news.org/2018/hranews/a-15528/. See www.isna.ir/news/97041105927/. See www.isna.ir/news/97041005412/ and https://iranhumanrights.org/2018/07/shots-fired-at-protestas-officials-unable-to-ease-water-shortage-crisis-in-irans-khuzestan-province/. See www.isna.ir/news/97041005412/. See www.mizanonline.com/fa/news/433203/. See www.ilna.ir/fa/tiny/news-628251. See www.isna.ir/news/97012408153/, www.irna.ir/fa/News/82882670 and www.iranhumanrights.org/2018/11/isfahan-farmers-stage-40-day-protest-against-local-authoritiesmismanagement-of-scarce-water-supplies/. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, art. 12 (2); and Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 14, para. 4. See www.atlanticcouncil.org/images/publications/Environmental_and_Wildlife_Degradation_in_ Iran1.pdf. Ibid. See www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15109116, www.who.int/phe/health_topics/outdoorair/databases/cities-2011/en/ and http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/741891483046725613/pdf/111462-WP-P162048PUBLIC-IranEcoMonitor-12-22-2016.pdf. See www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6108243/#R22. 9