Iraq Faces Deepening Drought as Water Reserves Fall Sharply

Iraq is confronting a severe drought crisis as climate change and upstream water policies in neighboring countries drive water reserves down from 18 billion cubic meters last year to about 10 billion cubic meters, a decline that is already affecting agriculture and rural livelihoods. The shrinking supply has heightened concern over the country’s ability to manage one of its most pressing economic and social risks. Furat al-Temimi, former head of the parliamentary agriculture and water committee, said the crisis has moved beyond a temporary emergency and is becoming a lasting condition. He warned that unless action is taken, the impacts will grow more severe in the coming years. Al-Temimi said dam construction has not taken fair water-sharing needs into account on shared rivers. He called for a national strategy to reuse wastewater, monitor groundwater and collect rainwater. The Ministry of Water Resources said low water releases and weak rainfall have significantly reduced reserves. It added that this year is one of the driest since 1933.