'Alarm Bell' as Century-Old Badaa Dam Dries Up in Southern Iraq
The Badaa Dam river, a lifeline for Iraq's Shatra city for a century, has dried up, threatening residents and agriculture. Locals and experts are urgently appealing to the government for aid to prevent a wider environmental and humanitarian disaster.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The vital Badaa Dam river, a lifeline for the city of Shatra and its surrounding regions for nearly a century, has completely dried up, sparking urgent appeals for government intervention to avert a humanitarian and environmental disaster.
For the first time since its construction, the dam’s riverbed is now a dry basin, a sight that residents have "sorrowfully witnessed," according to local reports. The desiccation of this crucial water source has raised profound concerns for the future of water security in the area, directly threatening major water projects that serve the governorate.
The crisis has mobilized citizens and activists, who are now calling on the highest levels of government for immediate action.
"We are at the Badaa Dam, and you can see its desiccation with your own eyes," Sair Hadi, a civil activist, told Kurdistan24's correspondent Haidar al-Hanoun while at the site. "This is an appeal to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Water Resources, relevant authorities, and parliamentarians to save Shatra and its surrounding areas from drying up, as several towns and villages depend on this dam."
The impact is being felt across all aspects of local life. The dam was not only a source of water but also the only tourist destination for the people of Shatra, who used it for swimming to escape the extreme summer heat amid a lack of electricity. That has now come to an end.
"If this situation continues, it will impact people, animals, and all sectors," said Hayder Ghatghati, a local citizen. "This used to be a tourist area, but now, with this desiccation, that sector has come to an end."
Environmental experts are warning that the consequences could be severe and far-reaching if the situation is not addressed. The drop in the river's water level to a "dangerous degree" poses a direct threat to livelihoods and public health.
"The threat of desiccation is a real alarm bell for the lives, health, and livelihoods of our citizens," stated Mohammed Salim, an expert in environmental affairs. "It will also have a detrimental impact on livestock, the environment, and agriculture."
Salim urged a broader strategy to combat the crisis, saying, "We call on the government to pressure neighboring countries for greater water releases and to distribute it equitably among the governorates."
Kurdistan24's correspondent Haidar al-Hanoun contributed to this report.
