Iraq blames Iran as rivers run dry - in pictures

  • Water levels have fallen at Dukan dam on the Little Zab river in north-eastern Iraq. All photos: Reuters
    Water levels have fallen at Dukan dam on the Little Zab river in north-eastern Iraq. All photos: Reuters
  • The drop in water levels at the dam will affect Iraqis living in the river basin, the Water Ministry says.
    The drop in water levels at the dam will affect Iraqis living in the river basin, the Water Ministry says.
  • Iraqi authorities have blamed Iran for the drop in water flows from the river.
    Iraqi authorities have blamed Iran for the drop in water flows from the river.
  • Darbandikhan Dam on the Sirwan river in northern Iraq. Water levels have also fallen in the river, which flows from north-west Iran.
    Darbandikhan Dam on the Sirwan river in northern Iraq. Water levels have also fallen in the river, which flows from north-west Iran.
  • Iran and Turkey are building dams to solve water scarcity problems, but regional co-operation on the issue is patchy.
    Iran and Turkey are building dams to solve water scarcity problems, but regional co-operation on the issue is patchy.
  • Iraqi officials say the Daryan Dam in Iran is diverting some of the Sirwan back into Iranian territory through a 48-kilometre tunnel.
    Iraqi officials say the Daryan Dam in Iran is diverting some of the Sirwan back into Iranian territory through a 48-kilometre tunnel.
  • Nabil Musa, an Iraqi Kurdish environmental activist, takes pictures of the Sirwan on the outskirts of the north-eastern city of Halabja. Iran is controlling all of the river's water, he says.
    Nabil Musa, an Iraqi Kurdish environmental activist, takes pictures of the Sirwan on the outskirts of the north-eastern city of Halabja. Iran is controlling all of the river's water, he says.
  • An orchard in Diyala province, which borders Iran, has dried out. Iraq says the situation in the province will worsen without an agreement with Iran to share the damage caused by lower water flows.
    An orchard in Diyala province, which borders Iran, has dried out. Iraq says the situation in the province will worsen without an agreement with Iran to share the damage caused by lower water flows.
  • Ahmed Mahmud gave up working as a fisherman two years ago because the river near his home in the village of Imami Zamen was running dry.
    Ahmed Mahmud gave up working as a fisherman two years ago because the river near his home in the village of Imami Zamen was running dry.