Baghdad The United Nations World Food Program has expanded its program to build resilience and recovery in a number of governorates, including Salah al-Din, in response to growing concerns about lower than normal rainfall rates in Iraq, where this year witnessed the second lowest rainfall since 40 years old.

A statement of the program stated: The projects of the World Food Program that are implemented with local communities, the Government of Iraq and partner NGOs, will provide assistance to more than 130,000 vulnerable people in all governorates of Iraq, especially in Salah al-Din, Anbar, Basra, Maysan, Nineveh and Dhi Qar.

WFP Representative in Iraq Ali Redha Qureshi said: The World Food Program is working alongside the Government of Iraq and our partners to help affected communities achieve self-sufficiency, so that everyone can meet their food needs.

Qureshi added: Our partnership in different regions, especially rural areas in Salah Al-Din Governorate, is helping vulnerable families secure sustainable incomes by developing basic skills and providing them with the necessary tools. This will help them get through difficult times.

Iraq, which was known in the past as “Mesopotamia”, was able to meet its water needs, so the current water shortage is of particular concern. Temperatures have also reached record levels.

Last year witnessed the highest temperature ever in Baghdad, which reached 52 degrees Celsius. WFP assessments revealed that the rainy season in 2021 was below average, especially in the northern governorates and the Kurdistan Region. This can affect the final yield of major agricultural crops; It is wheat and barley.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency