Water scarcity in Iraq has affected agricultural land such as on this farm in Jaliha village in central Diwaniya province. AFP
Water scarcity in Iraq has affected agricultural land such as on this farm in Jaliha village in central Diwaniya province. AFP
Water scarcity in Iraq has affected agricultural land such as on this farm in Jaliha village in central Diwaniya province. AFP
Water scarcity in Iraq has affected agricultural land such as on this farm in Jaliha village in central Diwaniya province. AFP

Experts and officials warn of bleak outlook for drought-hit Iraq


Sinan Mahmoud
  • English
  • Arabic

Iraq will experience full-blown environmental degradation unless swift action is taken to tackle climate change, government officials and experts said on Monday.

The Ministry of Environment stated that Iraq ranks fifth on the list of countries that are most vulnerable to the effects of global warming, while the country's population of 40 million people is already facing environmental challenges including water scarcity, heatwaves and dust storms.

These challenges “limit the capabilities to fight poverty, to enhance livelihoods and to temper conflicts over natural resources”, Mohammed Al Allaf, dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Mosul University, told a forum on climate change.

“By now, all have realised that protecting natural resources is essential to protect the environment,” Mr Al Allaf said. “Everyone will lose with any environmental collapse.”

Abandoning outdated agricultural methods and preserving the country’s vegetation cover are among the top priorities, he said.

Trees once covered more than 60 per cent of Iraq's land but Mr Al Allaf said this had dropped to less than 4 per cent.

“This a great catastrophe for us.”

  • A remaining pond at the dried-up Sawa Lake on the edge of Iraq’s western desert. AFP
    A remaining pond at the dried-up Sawa Lake on the edge of Iraq’s western desert. AFP
  • 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
    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
  • Hotels and tourist facilities near Sawa Lake have been abandoned. AFP
    Hotels and tourist facilities near Sawa Lake have been abandoned. AFP
  • Dry, arid landscape remains. AFP
    Dry, arid landscape remains. AFP
  • What's left of hotel accommodation. AFP
    What's left of hotel accommodation. AFP
  • Iraq's Sawa Lake was once a popular tourist destination. AFP
    Iraq's Sawa Lake was once a popular tourist destination. AFP
  • What was once a tourist hotspot now stands empty. AFP
    What was once a tourist hotspot now stands empty. AFP
  • Parts of Sawa Lake are completely dry. AFP
    Parts of Sawa Lake are completely dry. AFP
  • Bottles and plastic bags litter what was once a luscious lake. AFP
    Bottles and plastic bags litter what was once a luscious lake. AFP
  • What was once a lake is now dry, arid landscape. AFP
    What was once a lake is now dry, arid landscape. AFP
  • Lake Milh, also known as Razzaza Lake, in Iraq's central province of Karbala is also facing the perils of drought. AFP
    Lake Milh, also known as Razzaza Lake, in Iraq's central province of Karbala is also facing the perils of drought. AFP
  • Dead fish litter Iraq's Lake Milh. AFP
    Dead fish litter Iraq's Lake Milh. AFP
  • Human activity and climate change have combined to turn the site into a barren wasteland with piles of salt. AFP
    Human activity and climate change have combined to turn the site into a barren wasteland with piles of salt. AFP
  • This aerial view shows horses running in Lake Milh. AFP
    This aerial view shows horses running in Lake Milh. AFP
  • Sawa Lake is now dry due to years of drought. AFP
    Sawa Lake is now dry due to years of drought. AFP

One dunam — 1,000 square metres — of forest can absorb 140 kilograms of carbon dioxide and three to five tonnes of dust each year, he said.

Planting millions of dunams of forest, therefore, is urgently needed to reduce CO2 emissions, increase oxygen levels and cut pollution.

“Vegetation is not only a friend to the environment but also the cornerstone in the efforts to protect it,” Mr Al Allaf said.

Another pressing issue addressed during forum was water scarcity. About 90 per cent of the water feeding Iraq’s two main rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, originates in Turkey or Iran.

The two countries — both facing their own recent water crises — have built dams and diverted water away from the rivers.

For decades, Iraq has failed to reach agreements with Iran and Turkey on how to ensure a fair division of the water supply, as both countries say that they, too, are suffering from scarcity of water and that Iraq follows outdated irrigation methods.

Other speakers at the forum called for more investment in renewable energy, modern waste-management technology, reducing the number of cars on Iraqi roads, raising awareness through new school curricula and for new laws aimed at stopping damage to the environment.

'We don't have time'

Abdullah Al Khafajy, a doctor and a climate activist, blamed the poor state of Iraq's environment on government inaction and the bad habits of Iraqis.

Dr Al Khafajy chastised the government for the absence of a proper green strategy in the oil sector and said that the country’s waste-management system was outdated, contributing to high air and water pollution.

“In a lot of cases, [government agencies] just burn the trash and this leads to very disastrous health outcomes — especially for the respiratory systems of human beings,” he said.

“Those fumes contain toxic materials — we in Baghdad smell those toxins almost weekly where they are burned.”

High levels of air pollution, he said, was one of the main reasons why rates of cancer and birth defects were rising in the country.

“All the time we try to advocate, we try to make change, [then] we get hit very hard by bureaucracy, corruption and political instability,” he said.

Dr Al Khafajy said the government had to act fast “because we don’t have time, Iraq is becoming a huge desert, we’re getting buried with sandstorms almost weekly and we can’t stand this and tolerate this any longer”.

He called on government and private sector to fund green initiatives, to allow youths to play their role in shifting the economy and to encourage more environment-focused start-ups.

However, he acknowledged that the road to environmental progress will be long.

“We need to educate, we need to advocate for the inclusion of climate action in our curricula not just the university curricula, but also middle school and primary school,” he said.

“We need children to grow up learning about the climate change and the catastrophe that could happen if we do not take action as soon as possible,” he added. “We should all take action to combat that.”

The one-day Climate Change International Forum took place in Mosul, a city that is still recovering from the three-year reign of ISIS and the war to drive the militants out.

Mosul and surrounding areas are facing a wide range of challenges, from postwar reconstruction to threats from climate change.

Despite its woes, Mosul has set an example for other Iraqi cities.

Last year, the non-governmental group Mosul Eye launched a drive to plant trees in and around the city, including a forest inside the city itself. More than 9,000 trees have been planted so far.

Provincial authorities in the province of Nineveh, where Mosul is located, planted more than 21,000 trees of different varieties last year, reviving part of its famous forests damaged during the war against ISIS. More than 3,000 trees have been planted this year alone.

“The current situation in Iraq is critical and we need to act swiftly,” said Anas Al Taie, executive director of Mosul Eye, which organised the forum.

“The problems we are facing in Iraq in general and Mosul in particular need years to be dealt with in order to change the reality.

“More provinces, especially those in southern Iraq, will lose a lot due to searing temperatures, lack of water and lost vegetation.”

The biog

Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology

Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India

Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur

How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993

Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters

Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar

What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

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You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

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Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes

Rating:3/5

Batti Gul Meter Chalu

Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5

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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

A Prayer Before Dawn

Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire

Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai

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Keep it fun and engaging

Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.

“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.

His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.

He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.

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Employees: 100

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No more lice

Defining head lice

Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.

Identifying lice

Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.

Treating lice at home

Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.

Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital

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Updated: May 09, 2022, 5:35 PM