Water crisis: Iraq suffers a double whammy, Iran's rivers dry up, drinking water survival is in danger!
Iran reported that water from neighbouring Iraq had stopped flowing to the Little Zap River, making the situation even more difficult for Iraq, already suffering from drought and desertification. According to the Anadolu News Agency, Iran's move has led to a periodic decline in the water level of Iraq's important Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
The report quoted Selam Omar, director of the water protection department of the Lanya district of the province of Putinje in the Kurdistan autonomous region, as saying that Iran "took unilateral measures to prolong the flooding time, especially in the summer months, without any reason or prior explanation to give warnings." "Put Iraq in a more difficult situation."
"There are reports that the water level at the Dukan Dam, the largest dam in Iraq's Kurdish region, is dropping by 7 inches a day due to disruptions in the flow from Iran," Omar said. ”
He added: "We are facing a serious crisis, especially in terms of drinking water supply. Iran's move to cut off water supplies will directly affect the Iraqi cities of Karaz and Lanya, and the impact will extend to surrounding areas. ”
The Little Zap River originates in Iran and flows to Suleymaniyah province before flowing to Kirkuk and the heart of Iraq, providing a lifeline for large populations. The official said that about 100,000 people in the city of Karaz are completely dependent on the flow of rivers.
Iraq is facing severe water shortages due to factors such as the construction of dams upstream from Turkey and Iran, as well as climate change. Earlier this month, Iraq warned that reservoir reserves were at a "low point" in the country's history, down 50 percent from the previous year.
As a water-scarce country, Iraq faces serious water problems. Iraq's Tigris and Euphrates rivers are the country's main source of fresh water, but the decline in the flow of these rivers due to a combination of upstream land damming, climate change and increased water demand has plunged Iraq into a water crisis. The challenge of scarcity.
Iran's decision to limit the power of the Little Zap River will have a particularly significant impact on Iraq. The small river not only supplies water to Iraq's Sulaymaniyah governorate, but also extends to areas such as Kirkuk, providing water to tens of thousands of residents. Especially in the city where Karaz is located, about 100,000 people rely entirely on the flow of the river for drinking water. As a result, Iran's actions had a significant impact on Iraq's drinking water supply and irrigation.
The Government of Iraq has repeatedly expressed concern about water scarcity and has called on the international community to pay attention to and help resolve the problem. But the domestic and international solution to the Iraqi problem faces complexities. A number of international political and geopolitical factors may affect the enthusiasm of countries to cooperate on water affairs. The Iraqi government's own governance capacity and economic situation will also affect its effectiveness in addressing water resources.
However, it is crucial to solve Iraq's water problems. Water is the source of life and essential for human survival and social stability. If effective measures are not taken to solve Iraq's water problems, it will not only affect people's lives, but may also lead to social instability and even conflict. Therefore, the international community should work together to provide support and assistance to water-scarce countries such as Iraq through cooperation and consultation to meet this serious challenge.