Iraq Faces Unprecedented Water Scarcity in 80 Years

AFP

Dry marsh of Chibayish, near the city of Nasiriyah, in southern Iraq.

Iraq is currently experiencing its most severe water shortage in eight decades, with the volume of stored water falling below 10 billion cubic metres. The crisis is attributed to both reduced rainfall and insufficient water releases from neighbouring countries.

Khalid Shammal, spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources, stated: "Compared to last year, water reserves have decreased significantly, forcing us to scale back plans for summer cultivation."

Speaking on the sidelines of the Fifth Water Conference in Baghdad, held under the theme “Water and Technology – A Partnership for Development, Shammal further noted: "Iraq is receiving only 40% of its rightful water share, which has led to a noticeable decline in the levels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers."

He explained that the country had not witnessed such a critical water shortage in the past 80 years. While low rainfall is a major factor, a lack of snowmelt has also contributed to the shortfall.

"At the start of summer, we should have had more than 18 billion cubic metres of stored water. Currently, we have only around 10 billion cubic metres," he said. "As a result, Iraq has suspended plans to expand land allocated for summer farming."

"Our current objective is simply to preserve existing green areas and crop fields, which span approximately 1.5 million acres," Shammal said.



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