Tag: #MiddleEastNews

The Young Iranians try to live normally during war On Tuesday evening, snow covered some parts of Tehran. Although the white snow looked peaceful, Tehran had only just experienced days of darkness. Smoke and black rain filled the atmosphere after air strikes were conducted on oil depots. Many young Iranians say that despite the fear and tension, they try to live their normal lives. Daily Life under Constant Stress Sahar is a twenty-something woman who spends the majority of her day at home. To pass time, she cooks, plays video games, and reads. The war, she says, has altered her feelings and thoughts. Stress makes her focus more on the creative aspects of the game. She designs beautiful virtual houses for hours. She uses it to distract herself from her fear of the outside world. The war is still in her life. Sahar recently learned of the death in an assault of a former classmate. The body of her friend has not yet been located. She was deeply shocked by the news. She is shocked by the news. She hopes, like many others, that the fighting will end before Nowruz - the Persian New year. This holiday is a celebration of spring, and it's usually one of the most joyful times of year. The Quiet City before the Holiday Nowruz will be here in less than 10 days. In normal years the streets and markets of Iran are crowded. Before the festivities begin, families buy nuts, sweets and presents for their guests. The feeling this year is very different. Peyman is a thirty-year-old man who says that Tehran does not look like it's preparing to host a festival. The metro, he says is nearly empty. Each train carriage has dozens of empty seats. It is also strange to hear the streets. He said that the streets are so quiet, people could play football right in the middle. One resident claims that the bombings has changed his routine. After the bombings stop, he now goes to sleep in the early morning. He sometimes goes out to get groceries and leaves the house in the late afternoon. Tehran has a population of 14 million. Many residents of Tehran have left since the 28th February attacks. Some families have moved to the north, towards the Caspian sea where it is quieter. Families leaving the Capital Mina is a young woman who recently traveled with her family from Tehran to Rasht, where she stayed with her grandmother. She initially did not wish to leave. She chose to remain in Tehran with her best friend, who also happens to be flatmate. Mina was ashamed that she had gone without her. One night, however, changed it all. The entire apartment was shaken when strikes struck the oil depots. Windows suddenly became brighter as though it was daytime. Her family drove finally to Rasht the next day. The rainy, polluted weather that followed the strike stained their car. Mina continues to call her friend daily, even after she has left the city. The two often discuss the future, and what they hope to achieve once the war is over. When life returns to normal, they have a simple idea: dyeing their hair lighter colors. Internet Blackout with Secret Connections Communications inside Iran have become very difficult. When the war began, authorities shut down all internet services. Some residents still found a way to get online. Many residents now connect to the internet using Starlink. This service is provided through satellites and small dishes. It is dangerous to use this system. If caught, authorities can sentence users to up two years of prison. Mehran is a young Iranian man who secretly connects with 25 other people. The device was hidden in an obscure location, so that officials could not find it or stop its use. There are even people who sell Internet access via Telegram. One gigabyte can cost up to six dollars. This is an expensive price in a nation where most people only earn 200-300 dollars per month. Shima is a young woman who bought the access in case of an emergency. It is sometimes hard to connect and the connection can be slow. She is relieved that she can still send messages and let her relatives know she's safe.
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The Young Iranians try to live normally during war

On Tuesday evening, snow covered some parts of Tehran. Although the white snow…

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