Officials in the Kurdistan Region have reported a significant increase in water levels across the region’s dams this year due to heightened rainfall.
Rahman Khani, the Director General of Dams, confirmed the surge in water levels particularly in the Dokan and Darbandikhan dams, ensuring ample water supplies for the upcoming year.
Kujar Jamal, overseeing the Dukan Dam, noted a substantial 5-meter surge in water levels compared to the previous year, with the current storage capacity reaching 57%.
Meanwhile, Saman Ismael, managing the Darbandikhan Dam, attributed the rise to heavy rainfall, enabling the dam to store an additional 620 million cubic meters of water. Ismael also mentioned that daily releases to southern Iraq account for 70-90 million cubic meters, with the remaining water utilized for electricity generation.
Iraq is on track to be one of the hardest-hit countries by climate change, with dwindling water resources and escalating desertification threatening as much as 60,000 acres of arable land annually, according to reports from Iraqi government and United Nations sources.
These climate disruptions jeopardize Iraq’s population, estimated at 43 million, with repercussions potentially leading to displacement, instability, and social cohesion challenges.
The intensifying water crisis, exacerbated by severe drought, upstream dam projects in Turkey and Iran, and heightened domestic water consumption, underscores the pressing need for sustainable water management practices.
As climate change accelerates and Iraq’s population forecasted to reach 80 million by 2050, the fragility of water resources becomes more apparent.
Temperatures in Iraq are soaring at a rate approximately seven times faster than the global average, causing water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to decline significantly due to increased evaporation. Long-term planning for resource management, particularly in agriculture, is essential to address the impending water scarcity issues in the region.
The loss of agricultural livelihoods in water-stressed regions has already fueled migration across Iraq’s south and central provinces, sparking local disputes over water distribution. As of September 2023, the International Organization for Migration identified 130,788 individuals displaced due to drought conditions and acute water shortages, reflecting the immediate impact of climate change on Iraq’s vulnerable population.
