Updates: polution; hunting; animal slaughter; climate change

[Anthea]

Duhok forest catches fire

The Zawita forest in Duhok province caught fire on Thursday, burning many pine trees, including some estimated to be 150 years old

“The reason behind the fire remains unclear,” Shivan Ismail, director of Duhok Forest Police, told Rudaw, adding that the fire initially started small, but strong winds caused it to spread rapidly.

Despite extensive efforts by firefighting teams from across the province, the fire has yet to be brought under control, Ismail noted.

More than 150 dunams of forest were destroyed in a recent fire in the Zawita area. The Zawita pine forest, often referred to as the lungs of Duhok due to its role in providing clean air, is made up of 90 percent pine trees, which remain green throughout all four seasons.

Fires are a perennial concern in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Earlier this week, wildfires sweeping through Sulaimani province scorched hundreds of dunams of land, destroyed centuries-old trees, and caused widespread environmental damage, as officials and residents warn that limited resources and difficult terrain are hampering firefighting efforts.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/030720252

[Anthea]

KRG Water Project to End Decades-Long
Shortage for 63,000+ Residents

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The largest water infrastructure project in the Qushtapa subdistrict is expected to be completed by the end of this year, aiming to permanently address the region’s chronic water scarcity. With a total budget exceeding 222 billion dinar's, the project will supply clean water to 72 villages, the town of Qushtapa, and the town of Bastana, directly benefiting more than 63,000 citizens

Maher Hassan, head of the supervisory committee at the Directorate of Water and Sewage, confirmed to Kurdistan24 that the project was initiated under the direction of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister. “Under the guidance of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, it was decided that this project be implemented. This is to rescue the people of the region, because currently wells must be drilled 700 meters deep to access water, and even then the water is not suitable for supply,” he stated.

The project, once operational, will eliminate the need for 111 water wells, many of which have proven inefficient and unsustainable. According to the project blueprint, water is sourced from the Lesser Zab River, where 3,300 cubic meters are extracted daily. After undergoing multi-stage purification, 300 cubic meters are distributed daily to Qushtapa and surrounding villages.

The infrastructure includes three primary storage tanks and 15 secondary reservoirs. Water from the Lesser Zab passes through three advanced treatment units, after which it is purified and directed to regional stations. The system is designed with a maximum daily capacity of 72,000 cubic meters, ensuring long-term sustainability of the supply

Ari Salim, director of the Qushtapa water project, detailed the technical components of the scheme, emphasizing its modern design and reach. He noted that water is drawn from the river using six high-capacity pumps and then sent to large clarifiers where sediment is removed. “In the second phase, the water is filtered and then sent to the main station, which has a capacity of 12,000 cubic meters,” Salim said.

He confirmed that as of now, 55 percent of the work has been completed. The distribution system involves a 300-kilometer network of pipes, with diameters ranging from 800 millimeters to 90 millimeters at final delivery points, ensuring that the purified water reaches individual households throughout the subdistrict.

The entire project, officially valued at 222 billion and 37 million dinars, is regarded as a landmark investment in public infrastructure by the KRG, with the goal of securing water access for the next two decades

As climate change and population growth place increasing pressure on natural resources, the Qushtapa water project is being viewed as a strategic and timely intervention to safeguard regional stability, economic development, and public health in this rapidly growing part of the Kurdistan Region.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/84 ... -residents

[Anthea]

Iraq Faces Deadly Drought
Amid Government Inaction

Iraq has officially entered the list of the ten countries most at risk of extreme water scarcity, a leading expert in water and environmental affairs warned on Saturday, citing worsening drought conditions and a lack of effective government response

Adel Al-Mukhtar, an Iraqi specialist in environmental affairs, stated that the country is facing a "real and deadly drought" and has reached "the most difficult water stage in its entire history." He warned that the crisis now extends beyond declining water releases to threaten Iraq’s entire environmental and social infrastructure.

“Iraq is suffering from a dangerous water situation,” Al-Mukhtar said. “This places the country among the ten nations most exposed to thirst due to severe drought and water mismanagement.”

The classification underscores the magnitude of Iraq’s water crisis, which is being fueled by climate change, reduced rainfall, rising temperatures, and a continuous drop in surface and underground water levels. Experts say the nation is inching closer to the total collapse of water security, raising fears of a long-term environmental disaster.

Speaking to Baghdad Today, Al-Mukhtar criticized the Iraqi government for failing to present viable long-term solutions. “There are no real strategies in place to face this crisis,” he said. “Even the recent increase in water releases from Turkey is merely a temporary fix—it does not address the root of the problem.”

The government has touted short-term agreements with neighboring Turkey and Iran, but experts argue that deeper structural reforms—such as modernizing the agricultural sector and investing in internal dam infrastructure—remain either delayed or largely unimplemented.

The water crisis, Al-Mukhtar warned, could trigger wide-ranging consequences including environmental degradation, economic instability, and mass displacement from rural areas to cities.

“This crisis is already pushing farmers out of the countryside,” he said, pointing to seasonal migration trends in Iraq’s southern and Middle Euphrates regions. "We are seeing shrinking farmland, rising unemployment, and growing social vulnerability. Drought is no longer just a natural disaster—it's a gateway to broader economic and security breakdowns."

Despite repeated warnings from experts and international organizations, Iraq’s water crisis remains a politically sidelined issue. With heatwaves intensifying and the Tigris and Euphrates rivers continuing to recede, time is running out for authorities to act.

“Iraq is in its most critical water phase,” Al-Mukhtar concluded. “But what’s coming could be even worse if real action isn’t taken now.”

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/888400

[Anthea]

Drought Dries Maysan Marshes
Triggers Mass Migration

A deepening water crisis has emptied the eastern marshes of Maysan province in Southern Iraq, displacing hundreds of families and wiping out traditional livelihoods in one of the country’s most ecologically and culturally significant areas

Local officials and media reports confirm that rivers and streams in villages such as Amilha, Zweida, and Shuwaitiat have completely dried up, forcing residents to abandon their homes as fishing and buffalo herding—once the pillars of the local economy—become impossible to sustain. Dead livestock, deserted villages, and rising unemployment now define the landscape.

“We are witnessing a wave of migration to the city of Maysan due to the complete drying up of rivers and marshes,” said Munir Saadi, director of the Musharrah sub-district. “At least 50 villages have either been deserted or severely affected, causing serious economic and social consequences.”

Residents have called on the government to urgently restore water flows to the marshes, warning that further delays could deepen the humanitarian impact

Environmental expert Adel Al-Mukhtar described the situation as catastrophic, blaming both climate change and chronic government mismanagement. “Iraq is currently experiencing the worst water crisis in its history. The government has no real solution,” he said. “Even the temporary increase in water releases from Turkey is not enough—it’s just a short-term patch.”

Al-Mukhtar, a leading environmental affairs specialist, warned that Iraq has officially entered the list of the ten countries most at risk of extreme water scarcity. He said the crisis has reached a stage where it threatens not just the environment, but Iraq’s social and economic stability as well.

“This crisis is already pushing farmers out of the countryside,” he added. “We are seeing shrinking farmland, rising unemployment, and growing social vulnerability. Drought is no longer just a natural disaster—it’s a gateway to broader economic and security breakdowns.”

Experts have repeatedly criticized Baghdad for failing to implement long-term reforms, including investment in modern irrigation systems and internal dam infrastructure. Despite international warnings, Iraq’s water crisis remains politically sidelined as the country endures its hottest years on record and watches the Tigris and Euphrates rivers continue to recede.

“The marshes are dying,” said Al-Mukhtar. “And so are the communities that have depended on them for generations.”

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/888608

[Anthea]

Over 2 Million Now Receive 24-Hour Electricity

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — Prime Minister Masrour Barzani announced on Tuesday that two million people across the Kurdistan now have access to uninterrupted electricity as part of the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) 'Runaki' initiative. "2 million people across the Kurdistan Region now enjoy 24-hour electricity through the KRG’s Runaki initiative. It will reach every home and business by the end of 2026," PM Barzani wrote on the social media platform X.

The Ministry of Electricity of the KRG issued a statement expressing satisfaction with the project's expansion, noting that over two million citizens—approximately 30% of the Region's population—now benefit from the initiative. The ministry added that most residents in the cities of Erbil, Duhok, and Sulaimani currently receive 24-hour electricity. The coverage also includes Erbil's 150-meter ring road and Sulaimani's 60-meter ring road.

The ministry emphasized that the achievement marks a significant step toward delivering continuous and more affordable electricity while contributing to a cleaner environment in the Kurdistan Region.

According to recent KRG survey data, a total of 2,055,000 citizens and 544,000 subscribers are currently benefiting from the 'Runaki' project:

City Breakdown:

Erbil: 1,375,000 citizens; 354,000 subscribers
Sulaimani: 504,000 citizens; 140,000 subscribers
Duhok: 176,000 citizens; 50,000 subscribers

As a result of the 'Runaki' project, more than 2,100 diesel generators in urban neighborhoods have been decommissioned. The KRG aims to retire over 7,000 such generators by the end of 2026.

Generators Decommissioned:

Erbil: 1,652 (equivalent to 285,796 automobile CO2 emissions)
Sulaimani: 202 (equivalent to 50,516 automobiles)
Duhok: 163 (equivalent to 28,199 automobiles)
Total: 2,107 (equivalent to 364,511 automobiles)

The KRG also noted that citizens paid their lowest electricity bills in May 2025, owing to new tariffs designed to protect low-income families and promote responsible electricity usage. Under these revised rates, 80% of citizens are now paying less than they did previously for both national grid power and private diesel generators combined.

Prime Minister Barzani first unveiled the 'Runaki' initiative in November 2024, aiming to provide round-the-clock electricity to every home and business by the end of 2026. On May 14, 2025, the KRG Council of Ministers unanimously approved the project. As outlined in the official plan, the city centers of Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok, and Halabja are expected to be fully covered with 24-hour electricity by the end of 2025.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/85 ... ki-project

[Anthea]

Dozens of Dams and Lakes Built

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Government (KRG) has implemented a sweeping water infrastructure initiative aimed at safeguarding the Region’s long-term water security, with the construction of dozens of dams and artificial lakes across Kurdistan

As part of a broader vision under the motto “Stronger Kurdistan,” the government has prioritized projects to combat drought, secure clean water access, boost agricultural production, and protect livestock resources.

Dams Across All Provinces:

The General Director of Water Resources in the Kurdistan Region, Dr. Karwan Sabah Hawrami, emphasized that the ninth cabinet placed water security high on its agenda, implementing vital and strategic projects despite financial and political adversity.

“The government approached this sector with an unwavering commitment,” Dr. Hawrami stated, “launching key infrastructure works in line with the national reform and service delivery program.”

Major dams completed include:

Chomargeh Dam in Erbil with a storage capacity of 1.2 million m³, costing 4.4 billion IQD.
Khans Dam in Sheikhan, Duhok with a capacity of 7 million m³, at 9.2 billion IQD.
Dedwana Dam in Darbandikhan with 21 million m³, costing 26.6 billion IQD.
Avqoban Dam in Shaqlawa, Erbil with 2.6 million m³, costing 8.1 billion IQD.
Shoger Dam in Koya with 2 million m³, at 5.6 billion IQD.
Tourjar Dam in Garmiyan with 2 million m³, costing 5.8 billion IQD.
Gomaspan Dam in Erbil with a massive 97 million m³ capacity, at 95 billion IQD.
Pastura Dam in Erbil with 20 million m³, costing 23 billion IQD.
Dwin Dam, currently under construction in Erbil, will hold 100 million m³ with a projected cost of 88 billion IQD

Artificial lakes include:

Chalkarda Lake (Erbil)
Pereysi Xwaro Lake (Halabja)
Khadris Lake (Duhok)
Sirqazl Lake (Garmiyan)
Qadiana and Bani Maran Lakes (Erbil)
Karitan Lake (2021)

A total of 58 additional lakes are either under construction or in the planning phase.

Innovative Projects and Community Engagement

For the first time in the history of successive KRG cabinets, new initiatives have been implemented, including underground floodwater collection systems equipped with advanced sensors to monitor and store rainfall and flash flood waters for later use.

Dr. Hawrami also highlighted the launch of the “Village Lake” initiative, a government-backed scheme encouraging rural residents to build small private lakes with direct support, contributing to localized water security and community development.

Building Resilience Despite Crisis

Despite severe economic pressures from Iraq, the Kurdistan Region has achieved a notable transformation in water infrastructure. The increase in strategic projects, Dr. Hawrami noted, has significantly enhanced storage capacity and solidified the Region’s ability to withstand climate-related water stress.

These achievements mark a major stride in Kurdistan’s journey toward sustainable development, self-sufficiency, and climate resilience.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/85 ... th-cabinet