Iran continues to cut off water from Diyala... Expectations of an unprecedented drought

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[size=52]Iran continues to cut off water from Diyala... Expectations of an unprecedented drought[/size]

[size=45]Baghdad/ Firas Adnan[/size]
[size=45]Iran continues to cut off water from Iraq, amid talk of diplomatic moves at the level of international organizations in order to present these violations. As for the Ministry of Agriculture, the water crisis has forced it to reduce its summer plan to 50%, amid warnings issued by observers that it will not be possible to secure drinking water next year in Diyala and the regions of the ends of the rivers.[/size]
[size=45]The ministry's advisor, Aoun Diab, said, "Iraq has a desire to have dialogues and meetings to discuss technically with the Iranian side regarding the measures taken contrary to what is stipulated in international norms."[/size]
[size=45]Diab added that "the meeting did not take place until the present time," stressing that "the area affected by the Iranian measures is mainly the Diyala River, especially the Darbandikhan Dam, which is fed by the Sirwan River and a group of other rivers that come from the eastern side, in addition to the Hamrin Dam."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out, "It is known to Iraq that there are four main rivers whose course has been changed and which feed the Hamrin Darbandikhan dams, which are (Sirwan, Zamkan, Abbassian, and Alwand)."[/size]
[size=45]Diab explained, "These rivers used to cross the borders, but the quantities received at the present time are very few, and we have a sharp and difficult summer ahead."[/size]
[size=45]Diab stressed, "Iraq has calculated that it seeks to secure basic needs, by which we mean drinking water and human uses, and then prepare certain quantities for watering orchards."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that "Diyala's orchards were affected for two consecutive years and were subjected to severe drought, forcing Iraq to dig a group of wells to use groundwater, but this solution leads to the depletion of groundwater."[/size]
[size=45]Diab noted that "the cessation of rain led to the entrapment of groundwater sources," stressing that "all these factors raise concerns about the summer."[/size]
[size=45]He cautioned that "all matters related to the technical side have been submitted to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as they are concerned with the political and diplomatic side, and there is a move towards internationalizing the file and presenting it to international organizations."[/size]
[size=45]Diab added, "The International Court of Justice considers disputes related to water, but its decisions are not binding, but we will be before the United Nations organizations and human rights because access to water is a human right, and therefore the upstream countries violate this right."[/size]
[size=45]Diab added, "Iraq cannot remain silent over cases that affect the life of the citizen, which is a very important issue. We have raised the issue clearly and explicitly, but we insist on the importance of conducting a technical dialogue with the Iranians, and this has not happened until the present time."[/size]
[size=45]For his part, the spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Hamid Al-Nayef, stated that "the water file is managed by the Ministry of Water Resources, and we are the beneficiary of the water and we are preparing an agricultural plan for the distribution of dues."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Nayef added, "The work is through joint committees with the Ministry of Water Resources, and when an agricultural plan is developed, it is distributed equally to the farmers for all of Iraq."[/size]
[size=45]He stressed that "the water crisis forced us to reduce the agricultural plan to 50% in order to settle the rural community."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Nayef indicated that "the United Nations and its specialized formations focus on the issue of reviving the rural community, since the farmer is the basis of food security and his work is linked to providing water."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Nayef concluded, "The government has made water a priority for its work and has started important measures to revive this sector, which needs funds."[/size]
[size=45]For his part, the water expert, Adel Al-Mukhtar, called for a "reconsideration of the water plans," adding that "these plans are no longer commensurate with the requirements of the current stage."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Mukhtar added, "Iraq is considered the fifth country to suffer from drought, and there were warnings from various quarters, including the United Nations."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that "the Ministry of Water Resources confirmed that the water storage has decreased by 50% from last year, which is a dangerous indicator, and it is currently estimated at 20 billion cubic meters, and if the next winter is not rainy as well, we will be exposed to a major crisis."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Mukhtar stressed that "drinking water in Diyala is under threat, as is the case with the areas that lie along the rivers."[/size]
[size=45]In the face of Iranian transgressions, Turkey also still refuses to talk about sharing the damage and has not sent the delegation it promised to arrive in Baghdad two months ago until the present time.[/size]
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