Iraq’s Minister of Water Resources, Aun Ziab Abdullah, announced that the country has successfully tackled the threat of drought thanks to heavy rains.
In an interview with the semi-official Sabah newspaper, the Minister revealed plans to complete 16 government irrigation projects out of the 26 pending ones by the end of this year. Additionally, there are new projects slated for implementation by 2024.
Abdullah emphasized the importance of protecting groundwater resources and ensuring the preservation of Iraq’s marshes, assuring that the country is well-prepared to prevent any drying up of the marshes due to the abundant rainfall this year.
He noted that efforts have already resulted in the removal of 8,000 illegal projects that were harming the water supply, with ongoing initiatives to eliminate excessive water projects across Iraqi provinces.
Iraq, one of the countries severely impacted by climate change, has witnessed some farmers in central and southern regions abandoning agriculture and livestock due to recent droughts, relocating from rural areas to urban centers.
Last year, the country faced significant water deficits of up to 50% following a decline in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
