Severe Drought in Iraq. Türkiye releases additional water from the Tigris
Baghdad (Rudaw) – The Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources issued a written statement regarding the severe drought in the country, stating that the main reasons for this situation are the decrease in rainfall and the decrease in water flow from countries that share its water resources.
The ministry statement stated, “We are experiencing the driest year since 1933.”
The statement also included the following information:
The amount of water coming from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers has decreased by 27 percent compared to last year. Only 8 percent of the water remains in dams and reservoirs, representing a 57 percent decrease compared to last year.
The drought has caused serious water shortages, especially in central and southern Iraq.
The Ministry warned that if neighboring countries do not cooperate sufficiently, the water crisis will deepen further and could reach a level that threatens water security throughout the country.
Turkey released more water during short period
On July 1, 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Mashhadani met in Ankara.
The Iraqi Parliament Speaker announced that the impacts of the drought were discussed during the meeting and that Turkey had decided to release 420 cubic meters of water per second into the Tigris River.
However, Sair Jubouri, a member of the Iraqi Parliament’s Agriculture, Water, and Marshes Commission, told the press that this increase lasted only a few days, after which the water flow dropped again to 5 percent below the annual average. “In many parts of the Tigris and Euphrates,” Jubouri said, “people can now almost cross the riverbeds on foot.”
Iraq: Regional cooperation essential to overcome crisis
The Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources emphasized the need for all national institutions to work collaboratively to increase diplomatic contacts with neighboring countries, enhance water sharing, and prevent illegal use of riverbeds.
Iraq faces water shortages every year, especially during the summer months. More than 70 percent of the country’s water resources come from across the border.
The Tigris River enters the northern Kurdish Region of Iraq, then flows through the southern provinces and flows into the Shatt al-Arab.
Source: https://share.google/8vfvW0GAgAV7cb6Mo
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Severe Drought in Iraq. Türkiye releases additional water from the Tigris
Baghdad (Rudaw) – The Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources issued a written statement regarding the severe drought in the country, stating that the main reasons for this situation are the decrease in rainfall and the decrease in water flow from countries that share its water resources.
The ministry statement stated, “We are experiencing the driest year since 1933.”
The statement also included the following information:
The amount of water coming from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers has decreased by 27 percent compared to last year. Only 8 percent of the water remains in dams and reservoirs, representing a 57 percent decrease compared to last year.
The drought has caused serious water shortages, especially in central and southern Iraq.
The Ministry warned that if neighboring countries do not cooperate sufficiently, the water crisis will deepen further and could reach a level that threatens water security throughout the country.
Turkey released more water during short period
On July 1, 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Mashhadani met in Ankara.
The Iraqi Parliament Speaker announced that the impacts of the drought were discussed during the meeting and that Turkey had decided to release 420 cubic meters of water per second into the Tigris River.
However, Sair Jubouri, a member of the Iraqi Parliament’s Agriculture, Water, and Marshes Commission, told the press that this increase lasted only a few days, after which the water flow dropped again to 5 percent below the annual average. “In many parts of the Tigris and Euphrates,” Jubouri said, “people can now almost cross the riverbeds on foot.”
Iraq: Regional cooperation essential to overcome crisis
The Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources emphasized the need for all national institutions to work collaboratively to increase diplomatic contacts with neighboring countries, enhance water sharing, and prevent illegal use of riverbeds.
Iraq faces water shortages every year, especially during the summer months. More than 70 percent of the country’s water resources come from across the border.
The Tigris River enters the northern Kurdish Region of Iraq, then flows through the southern provinces and flows into the Shatt al-Arab.
Source: https://share.google/8vfvW0GAgAV7cb6Mo
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