![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPP3I2NSINC2LBFI2PYOXDQHK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=838535afa082fad8bf594c0529d94d87190e231c59ed02ade4e205bc57069e3f&width=400&height=225)
Sawa Lake is now dry due to years of drought. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LQU2ET242HZ5XRBNW3DO5LHND4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e967f74abc5f6747e376b628cd6397a57edd308365940e90ecf6b8cb2e508cae&width=400&height=225)
A remaining pond at the dried-up Sawa Lake on the edge of Iraq’s western desert. AFP
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A street sign for Sawa Lake. A sharp drop in rainfall –now only at 30 per cent of what used to be normal for the region – has lowered the underground water table, said a senior advisor at Iraq's water resources ministry. AFP
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Hotels and tourist facilities near Sawa Lake have been abandoned. AFP
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Dry, arid landscape remains. AFP
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What's left of hotel accommodation. AFP
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Iraq's Sawa Lake was once a popular tourist destination. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R6WMY5NVORVTVNQFVY56TRQXGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=cde94d41952f5cc1fd2e90866010ca7f3c039063b6e9ae0b4a1f7254e0ce36fd&width=400&height=225)
What was once a tourist hotspot now stands empty. AFP
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Parts of Sawa Lake are completely dry. AFP
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Bottles and plastic bags litter what was once a luscious lake. AFP
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What was once a lake is now dry, arid landscape. AFP
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Lake Milh, also known as Razzaza Lake, in Iraq's central province of Karbala is also facing the perils of drought. AFP
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Dead fish litter Iraq's Lake Milh. AFP
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Human activity and climate change have combined to turn the site into a barren wasteland with piles of salt. AFP
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This aerial view shows horses running in Lake Milh. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPP3I2NSINC2LBFI2PYOXDQHK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=838535afa082fad8bf594c0529d94d87190e231c59ed02ade4e205bc57069e3f&width=400&height=225)
Sawa Lake is now dry due to years of drought. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LQU2ET242HZ5XRBNW3DO5LHND4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e967f74abc5f6747e376b628cd6397a57edd308365940e90ecf6b8cb2e508cae&width=400&height=225)
A remaining pond at the dried-up Sawa Lake on the edge of Iraq’s western desert. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DKIMDGKQOOF6XT5KV4SLJYZLHM.jpg?smart=true&auth=76c4d2f120b993bb38643c9045b7a3787151f54f51d254abb7de7379e1b450ee&width=400&height=225)
A street sign for Sawa Lake. A sharp drop in rainfall –now only at 30 per cent of what used to be normal for the region – has lowered the underground water table, said a senior advisor at Iraq's water resources ministry. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TUQWWH6DRUGZ6DWIDL62TFAWVY.jpg?smart=true&auth=627ded943e8af01d21220bbe869ffe809b70e3b850359d1290b95095543480a3&width=400&height=225)
Hotels and tourist facilities near Sawa Lake have been abandoned. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U27DBZ2QFXBS6BNH3NJ2XRVBFU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a50b7aa3091cf61dbe284f97e01b152bd64e7510856407730c8265727093b650&width=400&height=225)
Dry, arid landscape remains. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BJRLZ73QT7CD6WNXPIQ2Q5EJDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=dfca63d09d39a67377109e7f24d063c52c0c3422b02849b449c4454361386123&width=400&height=225)
What's left of hotel accommodation. AFP
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Iraq's Sawa Lake was once a popular tourist destination. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R6WMY5NVORVTVNQFVY56TRQXGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=cde94d41952f5cc1fd2e90866010ca7f3c039063b6e9ae0b4a1f7254e0ce36fd&width=400&height=225)
What was once a tourist hotspot now stands empty. AFP
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Parts of Sawa Lake are completely dry. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RZBOBI6HCMIURY2RRCD6RTTFGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0e05146693d7e709383c4b57ebe3dd344f4d962335c08d07337852066c620dde&width=400&height=225)
Bottles and plastic bags litter what was once a luscious lake. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RLLSQXKY3P5BC55RAOLFBT6ZPU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a73944facc5fd252bc7960be337487f66c5ab85791ae92dc24abadeeb0d4b4a4&width=400&height=225)
What was once a lake is now dry, arid landscape. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5YF4W2LH3A4OP26OBJCKGFXWHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=056c5bd1a05340814b2fc6fe1db376aefd471ae6dcfe2213966a6238d9518176&width=400&height=225)
Lake Milh, also known as Razzaza Lake, in Iraq's central province of Karbala is also facing the perils of drought. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FDPSA5VAFD7FGMK2SJPRB45CA.jpg?smart=true&auth=f25ce58878df4e37779915681f245518aefa03968028764d96452d70c0a30ec6&width=400&height=225)
Dead fish litter Iraq's Lake Milh. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L5EAZY73JK3R5AWROABMA4GOHY.jpg?smart=true&auth=2984d489b66892d56b359b2a096e95f1b9cb956693bb6f23efdc8ff37527695d&width=400&height=225)
Human activity and climate change have combined to turn the site into a barren wasteland with piles of salt. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A6DH6TCQ45NNXQX42DCNGKPTKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=0a3d682a51a55588690c02117e731c4ce5948030099f9f9055b4cfb8b9704fa5&width=400&height=225)
This aerial view shows horses running in Lake Milh. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPP3I2NSINC2LBFI2PYOXDQHK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=838535afa082fad8bf594c0529d94d87190e231c59ed02ade4e205bc57069e3f&width=400&height=225)
Sawa Lake is now dry due to years of drought. AFP
Iraq plans to plant 5 million trees to combat climate change
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani told a climate conference that more than seven million Iraqis had already been affected by climate change
AFP
12 March, 2023
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