This article first appeared on our partner site, Independent Persian

“We’re constantly terrified by the sound of explosions. The electricity and water keep being cut off. We are without jobs and have no food. It feels like no one is coming to help the people of southern Iran. We don’t want war.”

These remarks reflect dozens of messages and first-hand accounts received by Independent Persian from residents of the southern provinces of Hormozgan, Bushehr, Khuzestan and Sistan and Baluchestan.

With intermittent US military strikes on southern Iran in recent weeks under a very precarious ceasefire, residents say they are now grappling not only with the threat of explosions but also prolonged power outages, water cuts, internet disruptions, shuttered businesses and a complete lack of meaningful government support.

One resident of Bandar Abbas tells Independent Persian that when the strikes came, the sound of explosions were almost uninterrupted throughout the night, prompting many families to sleep fully dressed with their identification documents nearby in case they needed to flee at a moment’s notice.

“Every morning the electricity is cut for two to four hours,” the local says. “When the power goes out, the air conditioning stops working, the water pumps shut down and we lose running water as well. In this heat, even a few minutes without air conditioning is unbearable, let alone several hours.”

Not only do people live in fear of the airstrikes themselves but also the shockwaves from nearby explosions. Each blast raises concerns that windows will shatter and homes will be damaged. According to the resident, many people feel they have been left to fend for themselves.

Residents on Qeshm Island describe similar conditions. One resident says: “After all this anxiety and these explosions, the least we expected was for the water and electricity to keep running. Instead, the exact opposite has happened. The Islamic Republic welcomes war, but it cannot even provide people with the most basic services.”

The resident says that many families are now struggling to keep food and refrigerated medicines from spoiling, while repeated power fluctuations have damaged many household appliances.

A resident of Sirik adds: “Just last night my sister-in-law’s refrigerator burned out. We don’t have the money to buy her a new one that costs 500 million rials. Some of the explosions have been so powerful that windows have been blown out and walls and roofs have been damaged.

“People expected local officials or emergency services to check on residents after these incidents, but in most cases families cleared the debris themselves and relied on neighbours to help one another.

“When people go to government offices, either no one is there or they’re told to come back later. More than anything, people feel they’ve been forgotten.”

On Hengam Island, residents say their biggest concern – aside from the attacks – is the collapse of livelihoods tied to the sea. One resident explains: “Many families make their living from the sea. Fishing, passenger boats, tourism and traditional cargo vessels are the main sources of income.

“Now many people are too afraid to go out to sea and are effectively out of work. Tourists aren’t going to visit at a time of war. When fighting intensifies around the waters and ports, no one wants to risk their life. But if the boats don’t sail, families lose their income.”

Residents in Bushehr also reported experiencing explosions alongside power and water outages. One resident says: “It’s unbelievable that a province with so many refineries, power plants and energy facilities has to go for hours every day without electricity and water. We heard explosions at night, and during the day the air conditioners stop working.”

A resident of Jam tells Independent Persian that many government offices are either operating with skeleton staff or have shut down entirely. “If someone’s home is damaged or another problem arises, no one knows where to go for help.

“There doesn’t appear to be any plan to support affected families. It feels as though southern Lebanon is far more important to the authorities than southern Iran.”

In Chabahar, residents say they are facing not only security concerns but also a near-total halt or sharp downturn in economic activity. One resident says much of the local economy depends on the sea, with many families relying on fishing, maritime transport, ports and related industries for their livelihoods.

“When the ports are constantly being bombed, life comes to a standstill for us,” the resident adds. “Many people live on daily wages. If there’s no work, they have no money to support their families that day.”

Residents in Mahshahr and Sarbandar describe similar conditions. They say commercial activity at southern Iranian ports came to a complete halt following the renewed conflict and the US naval blockade, leaving thousands of families whose livelihoods depend on those ports facing severe financial hardship.

In Ahvaz, where temperatures are approaching 50 degrees Celsius (122°F), recurring power cuts and reduced water pressure remain among residents’ biggest concerns.

One resident says: “In this heat, a two-hour power outage makes homes unbearable. When the electricity goes out, either the water stops altogether or the pressure drops so much that it can’t reach upper floors without a pump. People in the south are worried about the explosions, the extreme heat, and losing both electricity and water. People have simply been pushed to their limit.”

Some of the messages received by Independent Persian also criticise government forces and members of the Basij militia, who before the latest round of fighting had publicly supported continuing the war and opposed negotiations.

One resident of Bandar Abbas writes: “Those who spent months in Tehran chanting slogans about war and resistance – where are they now? Why don’t they come to southern Iran and see the conditions people are living under?”

Another resident of Qeshm refers to the regime’s widely promoted “Jan Fada” (“Sacrifice Your Life”) campaign: “If there are really that many volunteers, why doesn’t at least some of them come to help the people of southern Iran? They don’t need to fight. They could simply help families whose homes have been damaged.”

The common thread running through most of the messages received by Independent Persian is a profound sense of abandonment. Residents say that as southern Iran faces military strikes, extreme heat, power outages, water shortages and an economic downturn simultaneously; their only real support comes from family members, neighbours and local communities.

Interviewees report that many government institutions have been largely absent or ineffective, reinforcing a widespread belief among residents that they are on their own.

Reviewed by Mohadese Tahery and Celine Assaf