A teacher from Sar-e-Pol-Zahab, living with his family in the tent after the earthquake on November 21, committed suicide and ended his life because of the psychological pressures caused by the difficult living conditions and financial difficulties.

An informed source told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) that at 10 AM on Saturday, March 10, 2018, a teacher of Fajr Primary School called Rasoul Ghahraman pour (married) ended his life by hanging himself in the village of Rijab of Sar-e-Pol-Zahab.

“The teacher lived with his wife in a tent near his half-ruined home in the Tazeh Abad neighbourhood of Sar-e-Pol-Zahab and he was deprived of the right to have a conex. He was under immense psychological problem due to the difficulty of living in tents and the lack of facilities in the winter in addition to financial problems.”, the source added.

Rasoul Ghahramani

“The cause of suicide by the teacher involved a family dispute and it was not earthquake-related.”, a Kermanshah news channel briefly quoted the Kermanshah provincial education director following the release of news on the suicide of the teacher.

“Unfortunately, the situation of the earthquake-stricken people in these areas is extremely critical, and more than fifty percent of the people have not received a conex and live in the tent. Rain and cold have made the living conditions more difficult for the families.”, the source said while dismissing the claims of the director general of the Kermanshah province.

“With the end of the winter and the rise in heat temperatures in the earthquake-stricken areas, the risk of infectious diseases has sharply increased, and such complicated situation has doubled the mental pressure on the people.”, the source concluded.

Earlier last month, a member of Parliament known as Shahab Naderi announced the plight of the earthquake victims in Kermanshah and reported that 97 people had committed suicide in these areas. “You Abandoned people. Well, it’s clear that suicidal thoughts come to their mind”, he said.

“They say the earthquake is a natural disaster, but leaving the victims in the freezing cold is at our hands. Conex cannot be given. I have visited the area. No promises have been made; not all families have received five million loans or donations. Even the promises of the presidency have not been fulfilled. Mr. Seif Khalaf has not fulfilled his promise giving loans to the families. Despite being in such difficult circumstances, the victims should also be thinking of loans.”, The representative of Paveh, Javanrood and Salas Babajani said.