Iraq Water Minister: Water Hyacinth Spreads to Five Cities

DIYALA, Iraq — Iraq's Minister of Water Resources announced Saturday that water hyacinth has spread rapidly to five cities across the country. Minister Müsenna el-Temimi noted that in Dukaniye alone, the plant was absent last year but now covers numerous canals. He said a single plant consumes between 3 and 5 liters of water daily. The minister said combating the invasive species requires coordination among multiple government institutions rather than a single agency. The ministry is considering biological control methods, including the introduction of a specific beetle whose effectiveness is currently under study. A government delegation is scheduled to travel to Egypt to examine this approach. El-Temimi warned that if the plant reaches the marshes of Najaf, containment efforts would become significantly more difficult, potentially escalating into a major environmental problem.