The United Nations issued a warning on Monday about the current severe heatwave and sudden water shortage in the Ahwar of Iraq, the most intense in 40 years. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Iraq reported that on the 7th of this month, the Ahwar and buffalo breeders in southern Iraq experienced serious consequences due to climate change and water scarcity.
Destructive Effects
According to the organization’s report, which was sent to “Eilaf” today, alarming field reports from the project team, implemented by the organization in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and funded by the European Union, revealed that the Ahwar are currently experiencing the most intense heatwave in forty years accompanied by a sudden water shortage in the Euphrates River. The destructive effects on the ecosystem, buffalo breeders, fishermen, and farmers in the Ahwar have forced many of them to leave their villages and migrate to provinces such as Salahaddin, Najaf, Karbala, and Babylon in central Iraq and other areas in search of usable water, food, animal feed, and employment opportunities.
Alarming Information
FAO emphasized that after the urgent appeal it launched on July 14, 2022, to support buffalo breeders and protect the ecosystem in the southern Ahwar, it provided emergency support to over 5,000 farmers and livestock breeders in various forms in coordination with the European Union and the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture. However, the current situation in July 2023 paints a grim picture. Alarming reports were received on the 7th of this month from the project implementation team, including distressing information provided by Risan Mohsin Zghair, a team member, highlighting the difficult situation in the Ahwar. The water level in the Euphrates River is only 56 centimeters, and in the Ahwar, it ranges from zero to 30 centimeters with a severe dryness rate of 90%, exacerbating concerns for farmers, especially buffalo breeders and fishermen. Additionally, nearly 70% of the Ahwar’s area is devoid of water according to the Marshlands and Wetlands Restoration Center under the Ministry of Water Resources.
Call for Decisive Measures
In this regard, Dr. Shaduli Kiouli, the FAO livestock expert in Iraq, stated, “The buffalo in the Ahwar are currently suffering from malnutrition, and some of them are dying due to water pollution in the low Ahwar,” necessitating urgent and decisive measures. According to the field project team, there is a government initiative to deepen the canals and rivers that feed the Ahwar to address water scarcity. However, due to the current water shortage, water releases to raise the water level in the Euphrates River have not been implemented. Currently, the available water supplies are allocated for drinking purposes only, exacerbating the challenges faced by buffalo breeders and the Ahwar ecosystem.
Sustainable Future
Dr. Saleh Al-Haj Hassan, the FAO representative in Iraq, affirms that “the acute water shortage, heatwaves, and drought in the Ahwar pose a significant threat to buffalo breeders and the entire ecosystem. Urgent short-term, medium-term, and long-term measures should be taken to prevent further damage and ensure a sustainable future for this Iraqi World Heritage site.”
Collective Responsibility
Dr. Abdulhakim Alwaer, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of FAO for the Near East and North Africa, stated, “We are closely monitoring the negative impacts of climate change and water scarcity in the region, especially in the Ahwar areas of southern Iraq. FAO, in collaboration with national and international partners, will work to enhance its ongoing projects in the southern regions to support buffalo breeders and mitigate the negative effects of water scarcity, pollution, and climate change that threaten their livelihoods. Protecting the livelihoods of farmers and breeders in the region and preserving the ecosystem is a collective responsibility.”
Mitigating the Worsening Situation
In conclusion, FAO in Iraq called on all stakeholders to join forces and mobilize all available resources to mitigate the worsening situation, stating, “Let us work together to protect the Ahwar, confront the impacts of climate change and water scarcity, and preserve these invaluable natural resources and their communities.” It is worth mentioning that Canada announced on April 21 of last year its commitment to protecting the Iraqi Ahwar, which represent the most beautiful tourist areas in the country and the most important biodiversity habitats in West Asia, as well as rescuing its inhabitants from the impending disaster. The United Nations Development Programme in Iraq, in coordination with the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development, signed an agreement to implement a project to protect the southern Iraqi Ahwar with a contribution of 5 million Canadian dollars to enhance biodiversity protection and the community’s resilience to climate change.
