Water crisis deepens in Anbar as half a million residents face severe shortage, poor water quality
Local activists report that "despite spending tens of billions of dinars to address the water issue, the crisis remains unresolved and continues to worsen daily."
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Anbar province is facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to water shortages, with residents going without water for days, and when available, the drinking water is unsafe for consumption.
Local activists report that "despite spending tens of billions of dinars to address the water issue, the crisis remains unresolved and continues to worsen daily."
For three years, Anbar, like other Iraqi provinces, has faced a humanitarian crisis due to water scarcity, primarily caused by the drying up of Lake Habbaniyah.
In Fallujah, Anbar's largest district, residents go without water for consecutive days. Many families are forced to purchase water from tanker trucks.
A local resident told Kurdistan24, "The water we receive is supposedly drinking water, but it has an unpleasant odor and taste. Moreover, the quantity is very limited and sometimes doesn't arrive at all. People sometimes wait from night until morning for water. Please help us find a solution."
Another resident stated, "We're in a water crisis. It's unacceptable to be in 2024 and still lack water. The water we receive is full of sediment, forcing us to filter it before drinking."
Nearly half a million people living along the Euphrates River in Anbar suffer from water shortages. Local activists express frustration over the lack of planning to address the water crisis, despite significant budgets allocated for water projects.
An activist explained, "The water shortage and poor quality stem from government negligence and lack of strategic water management planning, including the construction of dams and water storage facilities."
Residents view the water issue as another corruption case, believing officials are mishandling water projects, and question when the Iraqi government will seriously address this crisis.
Recently, the Ministry of Water Resources installed water filtration pumps at Lake Sarsar in Anbar, but the project remains half-completed due to lack of oversight.