ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An important water source in Iraq’s southern province of Dhi Qar is drying up, affecting thousands of people and threatening biodiversity in the area.
“Abu Lehya River used to be completely full, but now drought has reached an extreme level. We are still in the winter season, and the coming days will be even worse for the residents of this district because they will be deprived of the basic necessities of life. The main reasons are poor water resource management and excessive use of the river. It was once full of buffalo herders and fish farmers who depended on it for their livelihoods,” Abu Hassan Musafari, an environmental activist, told Rudaw.
Internal displacement, loss of livestock, and declines in agriculture and fishing are among the most visible consequences of the river’s dwindling water levels. The water used to support around 60,000 people. Since 2020, according to government figures, more than 10,000 families from water-dependent and marshland areas in Dhi Qar have been displaced.
There are currently 297,000 livestock in the region - half as many as there were two years ago, according to statistics from Dhi Qar’s veterinary hospital. This is especially apparent among buffalo numbers, which are in steep decline because they require large amounts of water and deep marshes.
“Climate change has had several negative consequences for this region. The first and foremost is the environmental impact and the second is the effect on livestock,” Dr. Ali Hammoud, director of the Dhi Qar veterinary hospital, explained to Rudaw.
“These changes have led to a reduction in vegetation cover, destruction of natural habitats, and a shortage of clean drinking water for animals. As a result, many livestock owners have been displaced. The buffalo, which we take pride in here in southern Iraq and the marshlands, is being forced to migrate to other provinces and regions,” he said.
This migration is not only due to water scarcity, but also the disappearance of plants like reeds and bulrushes, which are essential for livestock feed. The decline of these plants has led to malnutrition and diseases among the animals.
One of the places that has seen many of its residents move away is the village of al-Kurdi.
“Al-Kurdi is an ancient village, but people are leaving. There is almost no one left around us. The drying up of the river has caused agricultural collapse, and those who used to receive income here can no longer survive. We, too, are preparing to leave. On our right, three families have already left. On our left, four families have gone. This place is turning into a desert,” said Said Hashim, a resident of al-Kurdi.
Water scarcity is a critical issue in Iraq, threatening all aspects of society. According to the United Nations Global Environment Outlook 6 (GEO-6), Iraq is the fifth most vulnerable country globally to reduced water availability and extreme temperatures, based on data from 2020-2021.
The water shortages are caused by climate change, upstream dams on rivers, and mismanagement of water resources. In Dhi Qar, illegal use of the rivers is an additional problem.
“There are many factors contributing to water shortages in rivers, including unauthorized water use and illegal reservoirs built for fish farming. We are working on removing these violations, including demolishing illegal lakes and taking legal action against violators,” Hashim Muhaibis Qasim, the director of Dhi Qar’s water resources department, told Rudaw.
“We are also implementing measures to reduce water scarcity and ensure water reaches the affected areas. Our teams are working around the clock, even at night, to monitor the water supply and ensure fair distribution. Additionally, we are employing irrigation systems in areas such as the Gharraf and Euphrates basins,” he added.
Just five years ago, Dhi Qar was a destination for tourists drawn to the province’s abundant water resources, but today it is on the frontline of climate change.
