Iraq sets out plan to revive southern marshes, says flows cover only 32% of annual need

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Water Resources has acknowledged that the volume of water reaching the southern marshes now covers only 32% of their annual requirement, with current deliveries stuck near 1.7 billion cubic meters against an identified need of 5.4 billion cubic meters a year. Ministry spokesperson Hashim Khalid al-Khatab, who also heads the General Directorate of Agricultural Irrigation and Reclamation, said the ministry would coordinate across its units to safeguard water allocations and carry out regular monitoring of river levels and discharge rates. According to the ministry, enforcement action will target violations along the rivers feeding the marshes, including unauthorized diversions and unchecked consumption, alongside dredging and cleaning works to restore flow into the deeper marsh pools. The ministry will also track pollution from sewage, agricultural runoff and industrial sources, notifying relevant authorities to protect water quality. Al-Khatab said coordination with local administrations and provincial water departments would allow rapid responses to breaches of agreed water shares and ensure compliance with the national operating plan for Iraq's rivers. He did not specify a timeline for the measures, and no further details on implementation were provided.