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Shafaq News
03-08-2025
- Climate
- Shafaq News
From drought to saltwater: Iraq's deepening water crisis
Shafaq News The water's shimmering surface still flickers with a glimmer of hope for Iraq's fishermen, though it is now a meager promise rather than a bounty. Along the banks of the Euphrates River in the city of Kufa, two fishermen haul in their nets, determined to keep their tradition—and their livelihoods—alive despite an unrelenting drought that has throttled Iraq's rivers and lakes. In scenes of perseverance, one fisherman set his nets and another cast them out again, day after day, hoping to catch even a few fish to feed their families. But with water levels shrinking to historic lows, the river's bounty has become a dwindling dream. Drought Deepens Iraq has struggled with water scarcity for years, but the crisis has worsened dramatically in the past four years, pushing the Tigris and Euphrates—lifelines of the nation—to dangerously low levels. Data from the Iraqi Meteorological Authority's December 2024 SPI soil drought index showed 'severe to extreme drought ' across Iraq, with readings between 1.6 and 1.8 above normal thresholds—conditions also affecting much of the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, and Turkiye due to persistently low rainfall. In Basra, the crisis has taken a salty turn. The High Commission for Human Rights office in the city warned that rising salinity, linked to the drought and dwindling river flows, poses grave health and environmental risks to more than three million residents. Mahdi Al-Tamimi, the office's director, described a sharp rise in salinity in Basra city center and surrounding districts, undermining the already strained water supply. 'The small increases from recent water releases have been too limited to prevent worsening salinity,' Al-Tamimi explained to Shafaq News, voicing alarm at the growing threat of kidney failure and other health crises as brackish water infiltrates homes. 'We call on both the federal and local governments to adopt urgent, permanent measures to protect residents from this escalating hazard,' he urged. Al-Tamimi demanded that Basra's local government convene a special session—similar to a recent meeting focused on the Zubair district—to map out a comprehensive plan to mitigate the spread of saline water damage from Al-Madina district in the north to the Faw peninsula in the south. Rivers in Retreat The crisis is compounded by deeper forces; climate change has dried up rainfall across Iraq, making it one of the five countries most at risk globally, according to UN and international climate reports. Meanwhile, upstream water management by Iran and Turkiye has further cut flows to the Tigris and Euphrates. A recent UNDP report singled out Iraq's marshes as some of the hardest-hit ecosystems, warning that the country is losing some 400,000 dunams of farmland every year to climate-related pressures. The long-term outlook is even more dire. The 2019 'Water Stress Index' projected that Iraq could face a future without rivers by 2040, with the twin rivers no longer reaching their final destination at the Gulf.
Shafaq News
20-04-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
Threat to Iraq's water: Diyala official on illegal wells
Shafaq News/ As water scarcity deepens in Diyala, officials are sounding the alarm over illegal well drilling, warning that unchecked extraction is accelerating the depletion of groundwater across the province and beyond. Bassem Khalaf, Director of the General Authority for Groundwater in Diyala, told Shafaq News that unauthorized drilling often ignores technical standards and legal procedures, posing a direct threat to Iraq's long-term water security. While inspection teams continue to monitor agricultural areas, Khalaf noted that many violations occur at night to avoid detection. 'There's a ban on the movement of unlicensed drilling equipment, but it is not strictly enforced,' he said, adding that recent crackdowns have led to the seizure of rigs in Jbara, Qara Tapa, and Al-Azim. 'Some wells are linked to politically connected groups using them to supply fish farms—projects that consume large volumes of groundwater,' the official explained, pointing out that authorities have recently dismantled several of these operations, seized over six unregistered rigs and cut off electricity to illegal sites. Khalaf also stressed the need to regulate all groundwater extraction through proper studies and permits. Notably, Diyala's water crisis is part of a broader national emergency, fueled by declining rainfall, mismanagement, and upstream dams built by Turkiye and Iran, which have reduced Iraq's water inflow by an estimated 70%. Iraq ranks among the countries most affected by climate change, with the UN reporting that 17 of 22 Arab nations fall below the water poverty line. According to the 2019 Water Stress Index, Iraq could face a future without flowing rivers by 2040. In drought years, water availability can drop to 44 billion cubic meters—far below the annual demand of 70 billion.
Shafaq News
14-03-2025
- Climate
- Shafaq News
Drenched yet thirsty: Iraq struggles to harness rainfall
Recent rainfall has brought a sigh of relief to Iraq's parched lands, but the country's water crisis is far from over. While the downpours momentarily revive farmland and replenish groundwater, much of this precious resource vanishes due to poor infrastructure—wasted in a nation that desperately needs every drop. Rainfall Brings Relief, Risks Remain Iraq's rainy season typically spans from October to April, with annual precipitation ranging between 100 and 180 millimeters in central and southern regions, rising to 350-512 millimeters in the alluvial plain and western plateau, and reaching 500-834 millimeters in the northern mountainous areas. For the 2024-2025 season, forecasts indicated that Iraq could experience below-average rainfall in autumn 2024, accompanied by higher-than-usual temperatures. No comprehensive official data is available on actual rainfall levels for the 2024-2025 season. However, recent rainfall has provided temporary relief for Iraq, which is among the five nations most affected by climate change. Iraqis have watched with frustration as massive volumes of rainwater and floods swept across cities and valleys, draining away while the country remains in urgent need of water. Serving as a natural water source for farmland, supporting crop production, and food security, rainfall plays a crucial role in improving Iraq's irrigation and agriculture sector, which sustains a majority of the rural population. Additionally, rainwater is vital for replenishing groundwater reserves, a strategic resource for drought periods. Struggles with Rainwater Harvesting The issue of water resources in Iraq is structural, with the country's water stress level rated at 3.7 out of 5 according to the Water Stress Index, placing it among the countries classified as having a high risk of water scarcity and its associated dangers. According to global projections, by 2040, the land of Mesopotamia could become a country without rivers, as both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are expected to dry up completely. Utilizing rainwater in Iraq faces several challenges that prevent it from reaching its full potential. A key obstacle is the lack of proper infrastructure, with Iraq experiencing a significant shortage of dams and reservoirs, particularly in the central and southern regions, which are most affected by water scarcity. In this context, Thayer Mokhif, a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Water, and Marshes, told Shafaq News that rainwater and groundwater are key sources of irrigation in Iraq, 'but the large amounts of rainfall currently falling provide immediate, not long-term, benefits.' Mokhif attributed this to Iraq's delay in water harvesting due to the absence of dams and reservoirs, noting the sharp deficit of dams in the central and southern regions, while dams have been built in the northern areas, which are the primary water sources. Iraq has 19 dams, mostly constructed on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their tributaries, aiming to control the flow of water during periods of high discharge to protect cities from floods and to store water during dry spells. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has announced plans to build additional dams and secure water resources for its population while boosting agricultural development in the region. Additionally, experts cited the lack of strategic plans to store water for future, potentially dry seasons, emphasizing the need for dam construction and optimal measures to manage and store rainwater, which could help mitigate flood risks and meet growing water demands. Regional challenges also complicate the utilization of rainwater. Dams in neighboring countries, such as Turkiye and Iran, impact water flow into Iraq. "Rainwater from Iran and internal rainfall could be used by building dams to channel water into wetlands, especially in the marsh areas, but such projects have not been realized due to a lack of allocated funds," Mokhif clarified. On the financial front, limited budget allocations are a major barrier to developing water infrastructure. The funds currently allocated are insufficient for irrigation management, development, and dam construction. Despite previous calls for increased funding for the Ministries of Water Resources and Agriculture, nothing has been done, the MP explained. Solutions for the Future To prevent such waste, experts say that sustainable solutions must be adopted, incorporating modern technologies and advanced methods to ensure optimal use of available water. Among the key proposed solutions is the construction of more dams and reservoirs, particularly in central and southern regions, to enhance water storage capacity and ensure water security during dry periods. The adoption of modern irrigation techniques, such as drip irrigation and sub-surface irrigation, along with the use of magnetized water technology, would help reduce water consumption and improve agricultural irrigation efficiency. Furthermore, establishing desalination plants and investing in the revitalization and development of marshlands are effective means of boosting water resources. Developing a strategic water management plan involving all relevant stakeholders—governmental, academic, and international organizations—is crucial. Strengthening regional cooperation with Turkiye, Syria, and Iran in agriculture, energy, and industry could also improve the management of shared water resources. The importance of recycling wastewater and treating agricultural drainage water cannot be overlooked. Recognizing water as an economic commodity with tangible value would help reduce waste through the implementation of strict laws and regulations to protect water resources and reduce pollution.
