UN Warns That Iraq’s Water Crisis Could Have Regional Effects
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Roshan Amiri
- . August 10, 2023
- . Update: August 10, 2023 6:10 pm
The United Nations‘ top human rights official has warned that Iraq’s water crisis could have far-reaching effects on the region as a whole.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, made the warning on Wednesday after visiting Iraq and seeing firsthand the devastating impact of the water crisis.
According to Turk, the water levels in the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, which together account for more than 90 percent of Iraq’s freshwater reserves, have significantly decreased over the past few years. This is due to a number of factors, the most significant of which are climate change, drought, and dams built further upstream by Turkey and Iran.
The water crisis has had a devastating impact on Iraq’s economy and environment. It has also led to increased tensions between Iraq and its neighbors.
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According to Turk, Iraq’s stability and security are at risk as a result of the water crisis. Additionally, it poses a danger to peace and order throughout the entirety of the region.
Türk called on the international community to help Iraq address the water crisis. He also called on Iraq’s neighbors to cooperate in finding a solution to the problem.
According to Turk, the water crisis in Iraq should serve as a wake-up call to people all over the world. It serves as a reminder that climate change is a real and present danger and that we need to take action right away to prevent it from causing even more damage than it already has.
