Iraqi Water Expert Warns of Storage Challenges Amid Dry Summer
In response to ongoing drought concerns, the Iraqi parliamentary committee on agriculture and water announced in March that 10 locations in eastern Iraq had been designated for a rainwater harvesting strategy.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Water strategy expert Ramazan Hamza has highlighted several factors contributing to Iraq’s worsening water crisis while emphasizing the country’s significant storage capacity.
“In general, Iraq’s water supply is below the required level, especially this year, which has been relatively dry due to insufficient rainfall,” Hamza told local media on Thursday.
He criticized the Ministry of Water Resources' management of the Mosul Dam, calling it a "significant mistake" in terms of strategic storage. “We are facing a major storage gap due to poor water management, climate change, and water control measures by Iran and Turkey,” he added.
In response to ongoing drought concerns, the Iraqi parliamentary committee on agriculture and water announced in March that 10 locations in eastern Iraq had been designated for a rainwater harvesting strategy. The initiative aims to utilize seasonal rainfall to mitigate water shortages.
“Eastern Iraq experiences heavy rains in winter and spring, sometimes amounting to hundreds of millions of cubic meters, particularly in Maysan, Wasit, and Diyala provinces,” said Sayir al-Jabouri, a member of the committee.
Iraq continues to grapple with severe water scarcity, with officials urging coordinated efforts to enhance water management and conservation strategies.
