Iraq is facing its worst drought crisis in 90 years.

The Green Iraq Observatory explained on Saturday that Iraq needs heavy and continuous rainfall for at least 3 months to compensate for the sharp decline in the water levels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, dams and regulators, which have witnessed a decline that has reached critical levels approaching complete drought.

The worst water crisis in 90 years

The observatory indicates that Iraq is experiencing its worst water crisis in nearly 90 years, due to a decrease in annual rainfall and an increase in water consumption, in addition to the lack of government attention to the water issue, which has led to the expansion of the drought to include areas in the west of the country and north of Baghdad, after it was limited to the southern governorates.

Water reserves are at risk of sharp decline

According to the observatory's data, water reserves in dams and regulators may drop to less than 4% in the coming months if the rainy season is delayed, noting that the scattered rainfall is not enough to cover the needs of agriculture and human consumption during the coming summer, which threatens food and community security.

Impact of external water policies on local resources

The observatory warned that Turkey’s announcement of its intention to exploit one billion cubic meters of water in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers could put pressure on Iraq, considering that this measure could reduce available water resources and affect the environmental and agricultural balance in the country.

The need to adopt scientific water management policies

The observatory called for the development of a national water strategy based on scientific principles for resource management, including improving storage systems, rationalizing consumption, and enhancing cooperation with neighboring countries, especially Turkey and Iran, to guarantee Iraq’s water rights and protect the ecosystem and agricultural system from collapse.