Deepening Deprivation: The Consequences of War in Sistan and Balochistan
Baluohistan Human Rights Group – On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, DW Persian, in a report published amid escalating military tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel, examined the unequal consequences of war in Sistan and Balochistan, one of Iran’s most deprived regions. Disruptions to infrastructure, border closures, rising prices of essential goods, and restricted access to healthcare services have placed people’s lives under severe pressure.
In this context, Masoud Raeesi, Executive Director of the Balochistan Human Rights Group, stated:
“War usually imposes the greatest economic pressure on regions that already have weak economic conditions. The economies of these areas depend on local and cross-border activities, and with border closures or increased controls, many jobs are lost or disrupted. This reduces or cuts off household incomes.”
He also emphasized:
“When supply routes are disrupted, the crisis becomes more severe in remote areas. Prices of food, fuel, and essential goods rise, while people’s incomes decline, multiplying economic pressure.”
Fariba Baloch, a human rights activist and women’s rights advocate, also said:
“Even under normal conditions, people in Balochistan face widespread deprivation, and war has intensified these problems. Border closures, food shortages, and rising prices have made the situation much harder, and for those without identity documents, access to basic services has become even more difficult.”
Rahim Bandoui, a member of the central council of the Balochistan People’s Party, stated:
“The centralized governance structure in Iran over the past century has left the Baloch deprived of development infrastructure, and in times of war, this underdevelopment and the development gap become even deeper.”
The continuation of this trend, combined with a long history of structural deprivation, could lead to increased migration, the expansion of poverty, and the deepening of the cycle of underdevelopment in Sistan and Balochistan. This highlights how the centralized and security-oriented policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran have not only failed to respond to crises but, by ignoring the basic needs of the people, have contributed to growing inequality and instability in border regions.
