Water hyacinth spreads in Anbar’s Amiriyah, blocking irrigation canals

BAGHDAD, Iraq — An invasive water hyacinth is spreading rapidly through irrigation channels linked to the Euphrates River in Amiriyah subdistrict of Iraq’s Anbar province, threatening water infrastructure and farmland, officials and experts said. Amir al-Hasun, director of the Environment Ministry’s awareness and environmental media department, said the ministry is continuing to press the agriculture, water resources, construction and municipal ministries to take preventive measures. Mahmoud Salim, director of Anbar’s water directorate, said the plant is damaging water intake structures and described the situation as a moderate-level hazard. He said a recent visit to Amiriyah, accompanied by the Anbar governor, reviewed cleanup operations along the riverbed. Environmental expert Ahmed al-Alawi said water hyacinth multiplies quickly in slow-flowing rivers, covering the surface, reducing oxygen levels and harming fish populations. He added that the plant also threatens agriculture by clogging irrigation canals. A joint cleanup campaign involving the Amiriyah subdistrict administration, Anbar’s water directorate and water resources units has been underway for weeks. Officials said the current clusters are expected to be removed in the coming days, but a lasting solution will depend on coordination between the Agriculture and Water Resources ministries.