Baghdad: Minister of Water Resources Aoun Diab Abdullah confirmed that Iraq is experiencing its most difficult water year in decades due to scarce rainfall and low revenues from upstream countries. The Ministry stated that Abdullah met with the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Iraq, Anil Bora Inan, focusing on the critical water challenges facing Iraq and mechanisms for activating bilateral cooperation to secure its water needs from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Minister Diab stressed the urgent need to increase water releases to address water challenges, especially with the worsening effects of climate change. He outlined measures taken by the Ministry to adapt to the drought, including a campaign to eliminate violations, prohibiting summer farming, ensuring irrigation water sufficiency for gardening, and providing raw water for desalination plants.

He emphasized maintaining the minimum environmental flow of the river, protecting it from pollution, and preserving the Shatt al-Arab environment by reducing salinity concentrations. Furthermore, he stressed revitalizing the marshes to preserve their environmental and ecological heritage.

The Turkish Ambassador offered condolences to the Iraqi people and families affected by the Kut tragedy. He expressed Turkey’s readiness to exchange expertise, provide technical support, and implement water harvesting dam projects using advanced technologies. He praised Turkish companies’ competence in contributing to Iraqi infrastructure projects and implementing the framework agreement between the two countries.

The Ambassador confirmed that he had communicated the water scarcity challenges facing Iraq’s water resources sector to his government in Ankara.