ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Residents and farmers in Halabja are voicing concerns over a stream contaminated by waste that they say has caused illness and damaged crops.
The Hamaukhan stream is located north of Halabja city in an area where there are several hospitals.
"This water contains sewage. It contains toxic metals,” Omed Ahmed, an agricultural engineer, told Rudaw.
He said that the dirty water has been a cause of illness for people living nearby.
The municipality has proposed a project to clean up a three-kilometre stretch of the stream, but a lack of funds has put it on hold.
Salam Bilal, the mayor of Halabja, said the clean up would cost around four billion dinars (over $3 million).
Fars Hamarashid owns an orchard in the area. He said the unpleasant smell of waste has led him to consider selling his land.
"Even in winter, it becomes unbearable for farmers… I wish someone from the relevant authorities would come here for a minute. They will know what the life of orchard owners is like,” said Fars.
Water pollution remains a persistent issue in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, where municipal and industrial waste is improperly disposed of, often directly into water sources. This pollution poisons the water, causing illness and damaging crops and animals.
Sazgar Salah contributed to this report.
