Iraq in a race against time... water agreements or future thirst!

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[size=52]Iraq in a race against time... water agreements or future thirst![/size]

[size=45]Environmental experts called on the Iraqi government to expedite the conclusion of agreements with riparian countries to guarantee Iraq's share of water, in light of the increasing challenges related to water scarcity and climate change.[/size]
[size=45]Experts believe that these agreements are necessary to confront the water policies of neighboring countries that directly affect the flow of water to Iraq, threatening the country's water and economic security.[/size]
[size=45]Water expert Ali Al-Aboud said, “There is importance in Iraq concluding agreements with riparian countries to guarantee its water share, due to the major challenges facing Iraq in this area.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, "Iraq is a downstream country, which means that its water resources depend to a large extent on rivers that originate in other countries such as Turkey, Iran and Syria."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Aboud explained that “there are countries that are building dams and agricultural projects that affect the flow of water to Iraq, leading to a severe water shortage. Therefore, negotiating with these countries and reaching legally binding agreements is vital to protect Iraq’s water rights and ensure the sustainability of its water resources to meet environmental and economic challenges.”[/size]
[size=45]The environmental expert continued, “These agreements could include arrangements for sharing water, determining quotas, and cooperation in managing water resources in a way that ensures benefit for all participating parties.”[/size]
[size=45]For his part, Thaer Al-Jubouri, a member of the Parliamentary Agriculture and Water Committee, confirmed that Iraq has not signed any agreement to guarantee its share from the riparian countries.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Jubouri said, “The House of Representatives is not concerned with executive matters, including negotiations with riparian countries over the water file, but rather it is working to highlight the urgent need for water and push the government to move towards these countries to guarantee its share of water.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, "There is an Iraqi movement towards the countries bordering it, but this file is thorny and important at the same time."[/size]
[size=45]He added, "The government and the House of Representatives are awaiting the results of the negotiations to ensure Iraq's share."[/size]
[size=45]In addition, the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources reported that the government intends to implement 13 water projects in cooperation with Turkey, noting that “this plan will contribute to reviving thousands of acres of land through irrigation projects.”[/size]
[size=45]The ministry’s spokesman, Khaled Shamal, said, “It was decided to build three large dams to collect rainwater and floods in the governorates of Nineveh, Karbala, and Muthanna,” adding that “they will be implemented in the near future.”[/size]
[size=45]Shamal added: “Many irrigation projects will be launched based on these dams to revive desertified lands, including the lands between Baghdad and Babylon with an area of ​​150 thousand dunams, part of the lands of Muthanna Governorate with an area of ​​50 thousand dunams, more than 20 thousand dunams in Hawija in Kirkuk, 400 thousand dunams in Amara, and 475 thousand dunams in Dhi Qar Governorate.”[/size]
[size=45]He stated that "all these projects will be implemented in cooperation with Turkey," noting that "the Iraqi Prime Minister directed that these projects be started as soon as possible."[/size]
[size=45]He added, "In addition to the projects supervised by Water Resources, there are many other projects that fall under the responsibility of the Ministry of Construction and Housing, which were identified in yesterday's meeting."[/size]
[size=45]Iraq has two of the longest rivers in the world: the Tigris and the Euphrates, in addition to the tributaries and eight lakes that have been exposed to a record drop in their water levels, which has sounded the alarm about the possibility of them drying up completely, especially after the drying up of about 90% of the second largest lake in the country, “Razzazah,” which extends over an area of ​​1,800 kilometers and is located between the provinces of Anbar (west) and Karbala (south).[/size]
[size=45]According to the Mediterranean Institute for Regional Studies (MIRS), Iraq is losing the majority of its water resources. In 1933, Iraq’s revenues from the Euphrates River amounted to 30 billion cubic meters, to decline in 2021 to 9.5 billion, while the Tigris River’s revenues were estimated at 20.5 billion cubic meters, to decline in 2021 to only 9.7 billion.[/size]
[size=45]In light of this water crisis, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) announced via its official Twitter account that Iraq has joined the United Nations Water Convention as the first Arab country. The program also confirms its constant readiness to support Iraq in implementing the Water Convention and enhancing its efforts in water diplomacy to secure its water rights.[/size]
[size=45]The United Nations Water Convention, or the Helsinki Convention, was adopted in 1992 and entered into force in 1996. In 2003, the parties to the Convention agreed to amend the treaty to enable any UN member state to join this Convention, which aims to ensure the sustainable use of transboundary water resources by facilitating cooperation and improving water resources management at the national level.[/size]
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