Hundreds Protest in Babil , Iraq Over Severe Water Shortages Amid Scorching Heat
Iraqis protest worsening water crisis in Babil as drought deepens. With rivers drying and dams cutting flows, farmers abandon fields amid 60% drop in water reserves. UN warns of health disaster as tensions rise over Turkey/Iran dams.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Hundreds of Iraqis staged a protest on Friday in the central province of Babil , demanding urgent government intervention to address worsening water shortages amid intensifying drought conditions and soaring summer temperatures.
Approximately 300 residents gathered in the town of Al-Majriyah, near the provincial capital of Hilla, to protest the chronic water crisis, just one day after a similar demonstration was dispersed by police forces.
Drought and Diminished River Flow Worsen Water Crisis
The protest highlights a growing national emergency as Iraq, with a population exceeding 46 million, continues to suffer from extreme heat waves, falling rainfall levels, and critically diminished river flows. Water scarcity has become one of the most pressing issues facing the country.
The Iraqi government has repeatedly accused its neighbors, Turkey and Iran, of exacerbating the crisis by constructing dams that drastically reduce the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as they cross into Iraqi territory.
South Iraq Faces Intensifying Scarcity
In southern provinces such as Diwaniyah, public frustration has also escalated in recent weeks, with residents voicing alarm over chronic water shortages that impact both drinking water and agricultural activities.
The dwindling water supply has forced thousands of Iraqi farmers to abandon their fields, prompting authorities to significantly restrict agricultural operations to preserve what little water remains for domestic consumption.
This environmental stress has triggered internal displacement, particularly in southern governorates including Dhi Qar, and Maysan, where families have been forced to migrate in search of livable conditions.
UN and UNICEF Sound Alarms on Public Health
The United Nations recently issued a statement warning of the grave public health implications tied to Iraq’s ongoing drought and water scarcity. According to both national and international data, the country’s water reserves have plummeted by more than 60 percent compared to previous years.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also urged Iraqi authorities to empower local communities and youth to become part of the solution. In a press release, UNICEF called for improved water management strategies across the country to mitigate the growing crisis.