IRAN is suffering its biggest drought for almost 50 years, with water shortages affecting around 35 million people, the government has announced.

In a statement on Saturday, a Yazd state spokesman said that 350 villages in the province were suffering water shortages as the crisis deepens.

At least 334 cities across the country have been hit by the shortages, according to Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian, who told the Iranian parliament last week that nearly half the country will be affected by the water crisis.

The provinces of Isfahan, Baluchestan and Sistan are the worst-affected regions, with warnings of a“danger threatening Iran’s national security” as the drought continues.

United Nations Development Programme spokesman in Iran Gary Lewis warned: “The water shortage is currently Iran’s most important humanitarian challenge.” 

Experts blame poor management and administration of water resources for the crisis with an Iranian dam-building programme believed to have worsened the situation.

Mr Ardakanian has warned that supply may be rationed if there is no improvement, with an estimated five million people in Isfahan having no access to drinking water from July.