Daesh contributing to regional environment destruction: Official

Tehran, Nov 22, IRNA – Vice President and head of Department of the Environment Masoumeh Ebtekar said the presence of the terrorist group of Daesh in region has aggravated destruction of the living environment. Addressing a conference on Tuesday on the occasion of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, she said everyone was able to see the impact of war and conflicts on the environment. She said environmental threats could seriously affect nature and in the long run even leave an impact on the wealth of countries. She referred to situation in Iraq as a clear example of what conflicts and insecurity do on living environment of not just one country but the whole region as well. The official noted that the calamity befalling people in the northwestern provinces of Ilam and Kermanshah close to Iran’s border with Iraq in the form dust and tiny particles explains the close relation between peace and security with a healthy living environment. Ebtekar also said the savage attacks of the Zionist regime against people in occupied territories leave a similar negative impact on the living environment there especially in Gaza. The conference also hosts Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi and the Palestinian Ambassador to Tehran Salah Zawawi who is going to address the event. 'The message by the United Nations Secretary General will also be read out in the ceremony,' an official in charge of the conference said. On the agenda of the conference are the unrest in West Asia Region and the sinister phenomenon of dust storms overwhelming the region, he said. The terrorist activities by Daesh have caused serious environmental damage across the regional countries that need to be addressed. On 5 November 2001, the UN General Assembly declared 6 Nov of each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. 1378/IRNA