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— INTRODUCTION

Recently in September 2015, an international scientific conference was held by ICO International Charity Organization of Iran, the KOCA GROUP in cooperation with ETH UNIVERSITY ZURICH for the REHABILITATION OF LAKE URMIA, a disaster area where the amount of water has dropped from its original level of over 30 billion cum to approximately 2 billion as shown below in the pictures.
During this trip to Iran, ICO tried to involve all the stakeholders in the project to discuss the necessity of an urgent solution. There has been a consensus at all levels for the proposal from the Koca Group proposing a transfer of water from Lake Van to Lake Urmia in line with the feasibility studies to be undertaken.

— BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER

As a result of the construction of dams on the rivers of the Lake Basin and diversion of surface water for agriculture through illegal water wells, along with reduced precipitation and warmer temperatures, annual water supply to the lake has dropped dramatically resulting in serious drought.

Although it will be unlikely to bring the lake back to its original conditions of the last decade, it is technically feasible to refill the lake rapidly through water transfer. This can be done by supplying up to 2 billion cum of water annually through the construction of pipelines from Lake Van to Lake Urmia and immediately initiate the rehabilitation of the lake. ----> See More
The pipeline from Lake Van to Lake Urmia would be approximately 190 km long compared to a pipeline from the Persian Gulf or the Caspian Sea, which are around 1000 km and 320 km long respectively. Furthermore, Lake Van is 400 m higher than Lake Urmia whereas the other sources mentioned are 1300m lower than Urmia.--->See More

— Founder

  • Farhad Afshar
    ICO president
    Date of Birth: 1942 Tehran Iran
    EDUCATION
    • University studies at the University of Bern Switzerland,
    • Subjects Economics, Sociology and International Law.
    • Graduation from the Faculty of Economics and Social Science,
    • Degree: Dr.rer. pol., Development Sociologist.
    ACADEMIC CAREER
    • Lecturer of Development and Experimental and Theoretical Sociology of the Institute of Sociology of the University of Bern for 30 years.
    • Head of Development Sociology of the Institute of Sociology at the University of Bern
    • Director of the Swiss Institute of Development - SID of the Swiss Academy of Development,
    • Nomination of the Swiss Government as Member to the 'Federal Appeal Commission of Science of the 'Swiss National Found of Science, during 12 years.
    SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
    • Founder of the First Iranian NGO at the United Nation in Geneva. 'CO International Carty Organization of Iran' with the purpose to support internationally the development and social and economic projects in Iran.
    • Initiating and organizing many projects, as to mention the recently proposed Restoration Project of lake Urmia by transferring water from Lake Van to Lake Urmia'. "
    • Gavlan pilot project of 'Close Cultural Migration versus Cross Cultural Migration'
    CULTURAL PEACE ACTIVITY
    • . President of the Coordination Islamic Organizations Switzerland - KIOS/CIOS:
    • Member and co-founder of the Swiss Council of Religions - SCR; Religious dialog organization and interlocutor with governmental and public institutions.
    • Member of the Commission for Dialog with the Muslim - (KDM) of the Swiss Bishops Conference - SBC.
    • Co-founder of the House of Religions in Bern.
    • Co-founder of the Association of Christian and Moslems of Switzerland.
    ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
    • Luzon AG, Swiss company for modern technology Transfer and project development.

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Urgent solution