Iraq’s water crisis reaches historic level amid regional disputes and climate challenges

BAGHDAD / ARBA’ILO, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — Iraq’s Federal Water Resources Ministry has sounded the alarm over the country’s dwindling water reserves, now at their lowest level in 80 years. Officials attribute the crisis to reduced rainfall, upstream dam construction by Turkey and Iran, and a significant decline in the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. 

Ministry spokesperson Khaled Shamal reported that this year’s water shortage is more severe than last year, compelling the government to drastically cut irrigated farmland during the summer. Iraq currently receives less than 40% of its historical water share from the two rivers, with reserves plummeting to 10 billion cubic meters—well below the 18 billion cubic meters needed at the onset of summer. 

To mitigate the crisis, the ministry has set a target to preserve just 375,000 hectares of cultivated land this year, a small fraction of normal capacity. Upstream dams in Turkey and Iran continue to exacerbate shortages, threatening Iraq’s primary water sources and its ability to sustain agricultural productivity. 

Iraq, home to 46 million people, faces a multifaceted environmental emergency compounded by climate change, extreme heat, and declining rainfall. These challenges highlight Iraq’s vulnerability to climate extremes and its struggle with long-standing transboundary water disputes. 

Experts warn that without coordinated regional solutions and substantial infrastructure improvements, Iraq’s food security and overall stability may face further deterioration.