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Water for peace...the water crisis in Iraq
Iraq 03/27/2024
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The greater Mesopotamia region has witnessed many conflicts over water resources throughout history. One notable example dates back to 1720 BC when Abish, Hammurabi's grandson, built a dam on the Tigris River in an attempt to impede the rebels' retreat. There is no doubt that the world has changed a lot since then.
Today, pressure on natural resources such as fresh water has reached unprecedented levels. This is clearly evident in Iraq, where in recent years the country has witnessed numerous droughts and temperatures rising to 52 degrees Celsius, as a result of a widespread climate crisis, and the flow levels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have declined significantly. After the flow of the Euphrates River was about 30 billion cubic meters in 1933, it is only 7 billion cubic meters today, and the flow of the Tigris River decreased from about 21 billion cubic meters to 9 billion cubic meters, excluding the internal tributaries. This confirms the looming water availability crisis. By 2030, Iraq's per capita share of available water is expected to decline to 479 cubic meters, which is far below the level recommended by the World Health Organization of 1,500 cubic meters per year per capita.
The effects of the water scarcity crisis extend beyond dry fields and rivers, as severe droughts in agricultural areas in southern Iraq have destroyed crops and livelihoods, pushing people to abandon their ancestral lands and move to nearby cities. This displacement, in turn, has led to an increase in the population in urban areas, where water infrastructure is already strained and barely sufficient to meet the growing demand, raising the possibility of local conflicts over water allocation. This crisis does not differentiate in its impact on the lives of urban or rural communities, and each group faces unique challenges, starting from urban families who suffer from interrupted water supplies, all the way to rural communities whose livelihoods are threatened by desertification, so it is important to give priority. To effectively manage the limited water resources in Iraq to ensure access to clean water for the purpose of drinking, sanitation and sustainable development, thus improving the living standards of the population, empowering society as a whole and maintaining peace.
In addition, water pollution, such as increased salinity levels, especially in the Shatt al-Arab River, threatens the health of people and the famous marshes of Mesopotamia – an important center of biodiversity of global importance. Moreover, the movement of people leaving their lands due to water scarcity in Iraq is not limited to its borders; The same crisis affects neighboring countries as well. This leads to increased demand on shared water resources, which further complicates the sensitivity of the water sharing issue between these countries. For example, the increasing displacement will inevitably lead to an increased need for the water of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which are the subject of sensitive negotiations between Iraq and other countries such as Turkey, Syria, and Iran. We can see from the historical precedents of such conflicts, such as the disputes over the Ilisu Dam in Turkey, how these pressures can exacerbate regional tensions between riparian countries.
Since 1964, Iraq has been working with neighboring countries to resolve water-related tensions, and an agreement was reached between Turkey and Iraq in 2021 outlining Ankara's commitment to the equitable flow of water to downstream countries. However, an agreement has not yet been reached at the level of the Euphrates-Tigris basin. Such an agreement is a critical next step in a solutions-based approach to equitable water sharing. In addition to shared surface water, Iraq jointly uses at least five aquifers with neighboring countries without water use agreements.
The United Nations considers water and sanitation to be a fundamental human right, which are conditions for health, prosperity, and peace. Therefore, UNDP is working hard with the Iraqi government to help prevent increasing water scarcity and deteriorating water quality. With the support of international partners, UNDP works to optimize the use of water resources and improve integrated water resources management. One example of this is through the project (Catalyzing Climate Action in Iraq), where Canada contributed by establishing a monitoring system for the Tigris and Euphrates River Basin by establishing a platform that operates on the Internet and a geographic information system. On the other hand, the UK's participation in this project was aimed at promoting integrated water management in Iraq, with a focus on water supply purification, quality and accessibility, along with promoting sustainable management of river basins.
In addition, the United Nations Development Programme's (Crisis Response and Resilience) program, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development, is working to rehabilitate seven major water treatment plants that will provide more than 100,000 people in Basra with access to safe drinking water. About 960,000 people will also have access to clean drinking water through water facilities rehabilitated by the United Nations Development Program in partnership with UNICEF, and with support from the Netherlands. Furthermore, the Climate Action for Human Security in the Iraqi Marshlands program supports communities affected by the climate crisis to enhance their access to clean water through solar photovoltaic water purification.
Water security is a key pillar of Iraq's quest for peace due to its fundamental role in food and health security, ecosystem health, social stability, livelihoods, conflict prevention, economic development, and environmental sustainability. The water crisis in Iraq is a clear reminder of the broader global challenges posed by climate change and resource scarcity. This crisis emphasizes the necessity of integrated management strategies and the necessity of international cooperation and joint work towards sustainable development as the only way to lay the foundations for lasting peace in a world that enjoys water security.
* Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program in Iraq
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