UN warns of “serious repercussions” of water scarcity in Iraq

[size=52]UN warns of “serious repercussions” of water scarcity in Iraq[/size]

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The Shatt Al-Arab River suffers from salinity and low water level (AFP)
Baghdad: Fadel Al-Nashmi
[size=45]Jenin Plasschaert, head of the UN mission in Iraq (UNAMI), warned yesterday (Tuesday) of what she described as the “dangerous repercussions of water scarcity” on the present and future of Iraq, and implicitly criticized the lack of commitment of neighboring countries to provide Iraq with adequate releases of water.
The warnings of the UN representative, which she addressed to political leaders through a message distributed by the UNAMI mission, come at a time when the country is experiencing a severe drought as a result of the lack of rain and the decline in water levels in most of Iraq's rivers, which prompted the Ministries of Water Resources and Agriculture to reduce the area of ​​cultivated land to about 50 percent over previous years. The UN warnings also come in the context of the celebrations of the World Water Day, which occurred yesterday.
"Everywhere on our planet, water is the secret of life, and in Iraq the availability and proper management of water resources are of particular importance," Plasschaert said in her letter. She added: "Last month, I visited the Mesopotamian marshes in the south, and witnessed for myself the many challenges facing Iraq." She noted that “low rainfall, water shortages, soil and water salinization, ineffective resource management, and population growth are all affecting across the country. In addition to climate change, the active reduction of water flows from neighboring countries is another serious threat.
Iraq has complained for years about the water policies of its neighbors Turkey and Iran, as the two countries have prevented sufficient releases of water from reaching the territory of Iraq, by building dams on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in the case of Turkey, and by diverting the rivers’ courses and not allowing them to reach the Iraqi tributaries, in the case of Iran. In strong terms, Plasschaert said, "The bitter truth is that water scarcity is not only an immediate danger, but is also a risk multiplier. Its potential impact on poverty, displacement and conflict has serious repercussions on Iraq's long-term stability and prosperity."
She continued, “The theme of this year’s World Water Day is groundwater, making the invisible visible, and highlighting a precious resource that is often overlooked. As the main source of fresh water, groundwater must be protected and preserved.” She called on all stakeholders across the political spectrum to prioritize this issue as a shared responsibility, a critical issue that must be urgently and seriously addressed, the political division to be overcome, and most importantly, Iraq's neighbors should engage in meaningful discussions on water sharing and resource management. ». It is not entirely clear the efforts made by the UN and its representative towards persuading the riparian neighboring countries to adopt water policies that do not cause harm to Iraq.
While the Ministry of Agriculture says that its stock of the wheat crop does not suffice the country for more than 3 months, and complains about the lack of support and the decline in the areas of cultivated land as a result of drought and lack of rain, the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers announced, yesterday (Tuesday), an agreement to involve Egyptian experts in addressing desertification. . Some statistics indicate that the country annually loses thousands of kilometers of arable land as a result of drought and the failure of irrigation methods.
A spokesman for the General Secretariat of the Council, Haider Majid, told the official news agency (INA), that "there is a committee to address the Euphrates River basin, sand dunes, desertification and the establishment of the green belt, headed by the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers and with the membership of representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources, in addition to a number of specialists, academics and consultants. and university professors.
He added that the task of this committee is to "develop visions and ideas to address the salinity of the Euphrates River basin." Majeed said that "the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers held a meeting two days ago with a number of Egyptian experts who have a role in the process of transforming Egypt's desert into green spaces, to transfer this experience to Iraq."[/size]
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