Updates: polution; hunting; animal slaughter; climate change

[Anthea]

KRG Health Authorities Issue
Warnings Amid Dust Storms

The Sulaymaniyah General Directorate of Health has issued a set of public health guidelines as heavy dust storms continue to affect several provinces across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, urging residents to remain indoors and take protective measures

In a public advisory, the directorate called on citizens to limit outdoor activity during the storms and to follow key precautions to protect their health. “People should wear protective masks when going outside and change them regularly,” the statement said, adding that staying indoors is highly recommended during the worst periods of the storm.

The advisory also recommended using protective glasses, applying eye drops, avoiding eye rubbing, and keeping doors and windows tightly shut. Residents were also urged to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, particularly amid rising temperatures.

Drivers were advised to keep car windows closed and use extra caution on the roads. The traffic police department also warned motorists to slow down and remain alert to prevent accidents due to low visibility.

Individuals with asthma or other respiratory conditions were advised to use prescribed inhalers or oxygen therapy under medical supervision.

The warnings come as intense dust storms have swept through multiple provinces in recent days. In the disputed Kurdish province of Kirkuk, at least 40 people were hospitalized due to respiratory issues linked to the storm, according to a source from the Kirkuk Health Directorate.

“Most of the cases were reported in Daquq district, where 24 individuals were treated for asthma-related complications,” said a spokesperson for the Kirkuk provincial health department. He warned that the number of patients could rise in the coming hours as the storm continues.

Dust storms, which are common in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, frequently disrupt daily life and pose serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/882755

[Anthea]

Third Cooperative Pond Project

Breaks Ground in Duhok

The Kurdistan Government (KRG) has begun constructing a third cooperative pond in the village of Kani Chenarka, located in the Sarsang district near Amedi, a move officials say will strengthen local agriculture and water management efforts

Karwan Sabah Hawrami, Director General of Water Resources at the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, announced the project on Monday in a statement on his personal Facebook account. He called the new pond “another gift of the Kurdistan Government’s ninth cabinet,” and praised Prime Minister Masrour Barzani for allocating 1.5 billion Iraqi dinars to support the cooperative funds.

“Fortunately, in Amedi district in Sarsang, in the presence of the mayor, irrigation officials, representatives from the World Food Programme (WFP), and local farmers, the construction of the cooperative pond has begun,” Hawrami said.

The project marks the third of its kind developed under a cooperative model, which allows residents to work alongside the government in constructing water storage infrastructure. The approach aims to reduce bureaucracy, lower costs, and accelerate implementation without heavily straining the public budget. Hawrami emphasized that if villagers across the Kurdistan Region are willing to contribute to building such ponds, the government is ready to support them.

He also credited the WFP for its financial and technical assistance in the project.

The initiative is part of a broader water resource strategy by the KRG’s ninth cabinet, which has made irrigation and sustainable water management a key priority amid growing concerns over climate change and drought in the region. Kurdistan has been grappling with reduced rainfall and increased water scarcity in recent years, prompting the government to pursue localized solutions that involve public participation and international cooperation.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/882782

[Anthea]

Drought Displaces 10,000 Families

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Severe drought conditions have forced nearly 10,000 families to flee their homes in Iraq’s southern Dhi Qar province, leaving entire villages abandoned and livelihoods destroyed, according to local residents and officials

In exclusive remarks to Kurdistan24, residents described the scale of the disaster. “Everyone has left—no one remains here,” said one Dhi Qar villager. “All the people in our area have moved out. There’s nothing left, not even the most basic necessities of life. In the village behind mine, only two families remain out of what used to be seventy.”

Another resident, wrapped in a wool cloak to shield against dust, shared his hardship: “I’ve lost everything. I’m living in ruin. The drought dried up our wells and reservoirs, and the water we did have became contaminated. One of our young children fell seriously ill due to the water shortage.”

The humanitarian crisis has been brewing for years, but it has now reached a critical tipping point. Haider Saadi, the official in charge of the displacement and drought file in Dhi Qar, told Kurdistan24 that the crisis has overwhelmed both the provincial and federal governments. “Desertification and drought have become an unbearable burden on the local and central governments,” Saadi said. “Nearly 10,000 families have abandoned their homes due to these extreme conditions. Compared to other provinces, this is a staggering number. The threat of mass displacement is now an immediate and growing danger.”

Dhi Qar’s Struggle with Climate and Neglect

Dhi Qar, a historically agricultural province in southern Iraq, has long suffered from mismanagement, water scarcity, and the broader effects of climate change. Once known for its fertile lands and thriving marshes, the region has witnessed a dramatic decline in water levels due to upstream damming on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, irregular rainfall, and extreme summer temperatures—often exceeding 50°C.

For years, experts have warned that Iraq is among the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. According to the UN, more than 39% of Iraq's agricultural land is experiencing desertification. The effects are most pronounced in southern provinces like Dhi Qar, where subsistence farmers and livestock herders depend heavily on groundwater and traditional irrigation methods.

Successive Iraqi governments have been criticized for failing to invest in water infrastructure, diversify livelihoods, or support climate adaptation. Without urgent action, experts warn, climate-driven displacement could destabilize large parts of the country and exacerbate social and economic tensions.

Humanitarian Concerns Grow

The situation in Dhi Qar has triggered calls for immediate intervention from humanitarian organizations. Aid groups have noted a growing number of families seeking shelter in nearby urban centers or attempting to relocate to northern Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, which still offers relatively more stable conditions.

“This is not just an environmental crisis—it’s a human one,” said a spokesperson for a regional NGO. “Children are sick, families are homeless, and an entire way of life is vanishing.”

A Ticking Clock

Unless national and international actors respond with swift and targeted support—including emergency water relief, sustainable agriculture initiatives, and drought resilience programs—the exodus from Dhi Qar may soon be repeated in other parts of Iraq.

For now, the abandoned villages of southern Iraq stand as a warning: in the age of climate change, the human cost of environmental neglect is no longer a distant threat—it is already here.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/83 ... -emergency

[Anthea]

Iraq’s Water Crisis Hits 80-Year Low

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Iraq is facing its most severe water shortage in the last 80 years due to a combination of climate change, declining rainfall, and increased upstream water consumption by neighboring countries, an Iraqi official warned on Wednesday

Khalid Shamal, spokesperson for Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources, described the situation as “shameful and alarming,” attributing the dramatic drop in water flow to three consecutive years of drought and rising temperatures. “This is not limited to Iraq,” Shamal noted, “but extends to upstream countries that control Iraq’s water sources.”

Speaking to the media, Shamal said Iraq is now recording the lowest water inflows since record-keeping began eight decades ago. “That’s why we need a concerted effort from all stakeholders to overcome this crisis,” he stressed.

Strategic Plan to Address the Crisis

The Ministry of Water Resources has adopted a three-pronged strategy to confront the escalating water crisis. According to Shamal, the first step involves enhancing cooperation with neighboring upstream countries—Turkey, Iran, and Syria—many of which are building dams and diverting water supplies that feed into Iraq’s Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

The spokesperson emphasized the need for a “just and fair share of water” for Iraq, pointing out that over 70% of the country’s water comes from external sources. He added that Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani is personally overseeing water negotiations, reflecting the government’s prioritization of the issue.

“This has already led to agreements and ongoing talks with Turkey,” Shamal revealed, noting that both the Water Minister and Prime Minister have made visits to Ankara to discuss shared water resources.

In a related development, Prime Minister Sudani arrived in Ankara on Thursday for an official visit, during which he is scheduled to meet with top Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. At the top of the agenda is Iraq’s water share from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Agricultural Reform at the Heart of the Solution

Shamal also underscored the government’s internal efforts to improve water management through agricultural reform. These efforts include upgrading irrigation systems, introducing modern farming techniques, and reducing water-intensive crops. The government is drafting a national agricultural identity system to monitor and manage water use per farmer and per region more effectively.

“More than 80% of Iraq’s water consumption is in the agricultural sector,” Shamal stated, “so improving efficiency here will have the greatest impact on overall water use.”

Cracking Down on Illegal Use and Water Theft

As part of a third strategic focus, the ministry is intensifying inspections and enforcement against illegal water usage, pollution, and encroachment on protected wetlands and rivers. “These violations have led to ecological disasters and disrupted fair distribution,” Shamal warned, “whether it’s a province, a water unit, a farm, or an individual taking more than their share.”

The government aims to implement better monitoring systems and stricter penalties for those who illegally divert or misuse water.

Iraq, once a water-rich cradle of civilization, now ranks among the world’s most water-stressed nations. Decades of mismanagement, war, and poor infrastructure have compounded the impact of external factors like dam construction in Turkey and Iran. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, lifelines for millions of Iraqis, have been reduced to narrow streams in many places, devastating farmland and threatening food security.

The water crisis is not only a humanitarian and environmental issue but also a source of potential regional tension, as competing demands over shared water resources grow.

Iraq’s leadership is now under increasing pressure to secure water rights through diplomacy, reform agricultural policy, and crack down on water theft—all while adapting to the looming specter of climate change.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/83 ... l-disputes