Expanding damage to energy production: Basra is the most polluted in the Middle East

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[size=52]Expanding damage to energy production: Basra is the most polluted in the Middle East[/size]

[size=45]Translation: Hamed Ahmed[/size]
[size=45]A British report warned of the expanding problem of energy production in Iraq, noting that Basra has become the first in the Middle East with pollution rates due to the mechanisms used to extract oil. Areas close to refineries to areas farther away.[/size]
[size=45]A report by the British newspaper (By Line Times) and its translation (Al-Mada) stated that "the problem of energy production has become a fundamental problem today more than at any other time."[/size]
[size=45]The report added, "The recent war between Russia and Ukraine redrawn the race for oil and gas supplies," wondering about "the consequences for the population and the people who live near these energy sources."[/size]
[size=45]He stressed, "Basra constitutes 70% of the quantities of crude oil extracted in the country," explaining that "this province, with its resources, is supposed to be very rich and technologically advanced."[/size]
[size=45]However, the report added, "The pollution rates in Basra are among the highest in the entire Middle East region."[/size]
[size=45]He continues, that "places like the Omar River refinery are located near the outskirts of a residential area, where 90% of the population suffers from diseases related to inhaling toxic gases or drinking polluted water."[/size]
[size=45]The report pointed out that "large families consisting of many members is a normal thing in this region, and that children form the members of these families."[/size]
[size=45]And he spoke about "there is only one hospital, for the treatment of cancerous tumors and leukemia in children, which is Basra Children's Hospital, which contains 125 beds."[/size]
[size=45]The report emphasized, "These beds are always occupied, while hundreds of families come to this hospital for daily chemical and radiological treatments."[/size]
[size=45]He stated, "The oil fields still use the associated (gas burning) system that is burned in the air."[/size]
[size=45]The report added, "It is estimated that more than 100,000 people received hospital treatment for drinking contaminated water during 2019".[/size]
[size=45]He noted that there is no "plan to combat pollution or a real law for waste recycling in Basra," noting that "a section of private companies deal with pollution for those who want to recycle independently, but the city's waste is now invading many of the main water channels."[/size]
[size=45]The report continues, "The impact and damages of pollution are not limited to the areas near the refineries, but also extend to other areas."[/size]
[size=45]And he cautioned, that "the marshes or the water bodies of the Mesopotamian civilization region were considered among the most important examples of environmental diversity in the Middle East," warning of "their exposure to disappearance for reasons related to pollution, global warming, and dam projects in neighboring countries."[/size]
[size=45]The report stated, "Al-Chabaish, a town located an hour away from Nasiriyah, is the main starting point for starting a boat trip towards the center of the marshes, and by crossing the canals you can see unique views and herds of buffalo walking through the water."[/size]
[size=45]Abu Haidar, a resident of the marshlands says, “I was born here and stayed here. We used to work in fishing, but now fishing is very little and we depend for our livelihood on buffalo farming.”[/size]
[size=45]For his part, Jassem Al-Asaad, director of the Nature Iraq office in Al-Chbayish, said that "there are many problems that threaten this region and they must be addressed at some point." Al-Assaad added, "The first challenge is the factor of climate change and global warming," stressing that "temperatures have risen a lot, especially during the past four years."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out, "Large amounts of water evaporated during the summer, as a result, the rest of the water carries a high degree of salinity, and is one of the reasons for the death of large numbers of buffaloes."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Assaad stressed, “The most dangerous thing is the decrease in the flow of water from the rivers. Neighboring countries, such as Turkey and Iran, have built dams that closed the main sources of the river, which quickly caused the waters of the marshes to dry up.”[/size]
[size=45]He explained, "The sewage channels throw water directly into water bodies, and this constitutes a major pollution to the water."[/size]
[size=45]And Al-Assaad stated, "These waterways, at a time when boats were running using long oars, today entered them by boats that go with a propulsion engine, which causes pollution and the sound they emit causes an expulsion factor and frightens the migratory birds, which are among the factors of environmental diversity in the region."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Assaad concluded, expressing his hope that “these pollution problems will be resolved at a time when the marshes were included in the UNESCO Heritage List.”[/size]
[size=45]The report considered, "The continuing instability of the Iraqi government does not promise to create appropriate conditions for long-term environmental plans."[/size]
[size=45]He went on to say that "the population of the marshes continues to decrease, and many of its people prefer to go to the city more to find their luck there to live instead of continuing to be in areas that have become uninhabitable."[/size]
[size=45]The report finds, "The Iraqi government focuses more on oil extraction efforts, and thus ignores environmental development projects and health care."[/size]
[size=45]He stressed that "the war in Ukraine also increased the demand for oil in the global market."[/size]
[size=45]The report went on to stress the need not to "focus more on oil production at the expense of a better future for many Iraqis who continue to flee and migrate from these areas for the sake of their health and safety."[/size]
[size=45]For: The British Bay Line Times[/size]
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