Iraq asks Turkey to increase water flow in Euphrates

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s water ministry on Thursday called on Turkey to release more water in the Euphrates River after a visit by the Iraqi premier proved successful in doubling water flow in the Tigris.

Minister of Water Resources Aoun Diab called on "the Turkish side to increase water releases from the Euphrates River and to continue discussions... to follow up on water releases towards Iraq and lay firm foundations that guarantee Iraq's share," Iraqi state media reported.

A visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani to Turkey on Tuesday provided measurable success after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to double the amount of water released from dams on the Tigris River for a period of one month, saying the decision was made "in order to relieve Iraq's distress."

Turkey has also built large dams on the Euphrates - the second major river flowing into Iraq.

Water levels in the Euphrates and Tigris rivers - shared by Iraq, Syria, and Turkey - have dropped dramatically in recent years. In a stark warning of the threats a hotter climate poses to the country, a report by Iraq's Ministry of Water Resources towards the end of last year predicted that unless urgent action is taken to combat declining water levels, Iraq's two main rivers will be dry by 2040.

The ministry urged Ankara and Baghdad to continue "technical talks through the exchange of technical delegations for the purpose of reaching suitable solutions that satisfy both parties."

On Wednesday, Sudani said that his government will implement measures to regulate the consumption and waste of water.

Water scarcity is a severe issue in drought-stricken Iraq. The country is the fifth-most vulnerable nation in the world to the effects of climate change, including water and food insecurity, according to the UN. The issue is exacerbated by Turkish and Iranian dams on rivers that flow into Iraq, cutting off the increasingly dry nation from much-needed water.

Climate change is devastating communities in southern Iraq, especially those that rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. Since 2018, at least 68,670 people have been displaced from their homes because of drought, land degradation, and increased salinity in the rivers, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Iraq asks Turkey to increase water flow in Euphrates

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