Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Araghchi to Grossi: These parties will bear responsibility for the consequences of their actions
Araghchi to Grossi: Iran will respond to any unlawful action by European countries or parties attempting to turn the Agency into a tool for achieving their objectives
Araghchi to Grossi: We urge the Agency to warn against the consequences of any political move against Iran
Araghchi to Grossi: We call on the Agency to highlight Iran’s full cooperation during the upcoming Board of Governors meeting next week
Araghchi to Grossi: We demand that the Agency reflect the facts in a manner that prevents certain parties from exploiting it to advance their political agendas
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi holds a phone call with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi
Trump envoy Witkoff has sent 'detailed and acceptable proposal' to Iran for nuclear deal; it's in their best interest to accept it: White House Press Secretary Leavitt
Hamas official says Witkoff's position toward group was 'unfair' and shows 'complete bias' to 'Israel'
Hamas official says it has considered Witkoff's proposal acceptable for negotiations, says 'Israel's' response was incompatible with what the group agreed on
Hamas official says group has not rejected Wikoff's proposal for Gaza ceasefire

Iraqi marshes, once a wetland, now a desert-like realm

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Aug 2022 09:04
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

The detrimental effects of climate change are posing a threat to wetlands and forcing people to move in Iraq.

  • x
  • Children stand on a boat lying on the dried-up bed of southern Iraq's receding Chibayish Marshes - Asaad NIAZI  Read more: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/08/iraqs-garden-eden-now-desert#ixzz7bulmYzwn
    Children standing on a boat lying on a dried-up bed of southern Iraq's Chibayish Marshes (Asaad Niazi)

Three years of drought, low rainfall, and diminished water flows along rivers and tributaries originating in neighboring Turkey and Iran have battered Iraq's swamplands.

A citizen's lifestyle has changed due to the increasing drought. Hashem Gassed, for example, is forced to cross 10 kilometers (6 miles) in southern Iraq to feed and cool his buffaloes.

The Hawizeh Marshes, forming a large part of the famous Mesopotamian marshlands, have been drying up and their vegetation yellowing. 

"The marshes are our livelihood -- we used to fish here and our livestock could graze and drink," Gassed said.

While southern Iraq's marshlands were listed in 2016 as a UNESCO World Heritage site for their ancient history and biodiversity, the streams that were once grass-covered are dry now.

The wetlands have gone over years of severe drought in the past before being revived by rainy seasons. Between August 2020 and this month, 46% of southern Iraq swamplands, including Hawizeh and Chibayish, suffered from a complete surface water loss, according to the Dutch organization PAX.

Read more: Climate change targeting Iraq's ancient architecture

The organization said another 41% of marsh areas suffered from decreased water levels and wetness.

The marshes were "one of the poorest regions in Iraq and one of the most affected by the climate change," according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Iraq, which warned of "unprecedented low water levels." The organization noted the "disastrous impact" on more than 6,000 families who "are losing their buffaloes, their unique living asset."

Related News

Iraq denies report claiming Trump ordered 'Iran-linked militias' pull

Arab Summit 2025: Leaders call for Gaza ceasefire, Palestinian state

UNESCO reveals that the swamplands are home to "numerous populations of threatened species" and are a vital stopping point for almost 200 species of migratory water birds.

Ahmed Saleh Neema, an environmental activist, complained there were no more fish, wild boar, or even a subspecies of smooth-coated otter in the marshes.

Like a desert

While the swamplands were irrigated by two tributaries of the Tigris River, their flows had dropped, Neema said, and Iraqi authorities are rationing supplies to cover various other needs.

"The government wants to preserve the largest quantity of water possible," he added, lamenting "unfair water sharing" and "poor (resource) management."

Read more: Iraq: Receding Euphrates levels unravel underwater ancient areas

The Hawizeh Marshes on the Iranian side are suffering too, as Iran's state news agency IRNA reported recently that "the wetland is facing water stress and currently about half of its Iranian part has dried up."

Iraqi farms and marshlands' water needs are only half met, he added, since authorities are closely monitoring reserves and attempting to cover a variety of uses, with drinking water being one of the priorities.

In Chibayish, a citizen commented on the effects of drought and said dozens of families had left his hamlet looking for areas where there is water.

"Before, when we used to come to the marshes, there was greenery, water, inner peace," he added.

"Now it's like a desert."

Read next: Drought reveals ruins of 3,400-year-old lost city in Iraq

  • Iraq
  • Mesopotamia
  • Drought
  • Hawizeh
  • Iran
STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

Most Read

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS