Torrential downpour accompanied by strong windstorms and floods caused significant material damage in the provinces of Baghdad, Anbar, Najaf, Diwaniyah, and Wasit on Sunday. Many of the provinces individually announced the suspension of working hours prior to the decision from Sudani.
Water levels rose in many of the provinces, including Najaf, where water swept into houses, the historic Great Mosque of Kufa, and the Najaf International Airport.
The suspension excludes security and service institutions, according to a statement from the Iraqi government’s general secretariat.
No casualties have been reported due to the bad weather conditions as of the time of this writing.
Despite facing a strong wave of cold weather, rain, and snow in January, Iraq still suffers from the long-term effects of climate change.
The country is the fifth-most vulnerable nation in the world to the effects of climate change, including water and food insecurity.
Last year, low rainfall levels and high temperatures caused by climate change depleted water supplies across the country. Much of Iraq’s agricultural lands depend on irrigation, and dams and reservoirs were at record-low levels in the summer of 2021.
