Iran: Female heads of household put under enormous financial pressure
It has been more than a month since the Iranian regime finally admitted that cases of Coronavirus had been detected across the country. It has mismanaged the health crisis in the most negligent of ways and it is very clear that it is incapable of gaining control of the outbreak. It is also very apparent that the regime is entirely unwilling to take measures that would protect the people of Iran.
Prisoners are particularly vulnerable in Iran because of the conditions in which they are detained. The poor are also very vulnerable because not only do they not have the means to purchase the most basic of hygiene products, but they are also unable to access medical care.
The Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the main opposition to the Iranian regime, has highlighted that the female heads of household across Iran are suffering immeasurably because of the current health crisis.
There are many women across Iran that are the main breadwinners, working from home selling products, and they are suffering massive losses and increased pressure because they cannot continue their activity. They do not have a separate workplace where they can sell their goods and they do not have access to any financial backing. The Women’s Committee highlights that a lot of women in Iran do peddling in the streets, but that they are now facing massive restrictions to their activity.
In the province of Khuzestan in the southwestern part of the country, there are more than 33,000 female heads of household. The province has had a huge rise in Coronavirus cases and it has led to the government banning leisure travel to the area. There have also been restrictions put in place regarding businesses considered non-essential. Many women have been affected by this and a survey has shown that the economic pressure they are under is tremendous – so much so that some women have contemplated suicide.
These women do not have access to welfare payments. One woman who is the head of her household in Ahvaz recently said that her only source of income was the profit she made from selling relish sauce. She said that since the beginning of the health crisis, she has been unable to sell her products and that her debts are mounting.
She explained that she has expenses to pay, including rent and that she is unable to stock her products because she does not have a refrigerator. She fears that her products may have to be discarded. The woman is disabled and has two teenage daughters.
A few days ago, the water company came to her house to cut her supply – something that caused her great embarrassment, especially considering that she has been working hard for years to support her family.
This is just one of many cases across the country. There is no doubt that the situation will get worse for more and more people. This is one of the reasons why so many people across the country want to see regime change.
