Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Ghulam Isaczai, Speech at Iraq’s Internal Water Resources Management and Solution Workshop

It is a privilege to be here this morning at the invitation of Bahr Alolom Forum at the 1st workshop conference under the theme, Iraq’s Thirst.

The land of the two rivers –

Euphrates and Tigris rivers-the site of ancient Babylonia, home to Gilgamesh…

Two majestic rivers with ancient paths have carved this rugged land and built human civilization. Both rivers have stood witness to olden societies, their rise and fall, their struggles and overcoming adversities.

The oldest human civilization in Mesopotamia provided well-organized and highly efficient hydraulic systems, sophisticated irrigation, and flood control structures.

Statement of the problem

But today, the water situation in Iraq is alarming.

In 2021, the country experienced its second driest season in 40 years due to record low rainfall.

Northern Iraq was particularly affected by drought, while the southern part of the country experienced a decrease in fresh water supply; both resulted in significant crop failures.

Over the last 40 years, water flows from the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, which provide up to 98% of Iraq’s surface water, have decreased by 30-40%.

Compared to 2015, Iraq’s overall water supply is expected to decrease by up to 60% by 2025.

Pressures on the country’s water resources include dam construction by neighboring countries, intensive water usage in Iraqi agriculture, unsustainable domestic water consumption, the impact of violent conflicts and wars on water infrastructure, and the consequences of climate change.

The decrease in Iraq’s freshwater supply has dramatic consequences for households’ sanitation needs, irrigation, hydroelectricity production, and sustaining ecosystems, and it adds to the already existing tensions between the riparian states – within, but also beyond the water sector.

When discussing water scarcity, we must equally address water quality.

Declining water quality has become one of Iraq’s major challenges, particularly in the south.

For instance, during the 2018 water crisis in Basra, more than 120,000 people were hospitalized with water-borne diseases, following similar incidents in 2009 and 2015.

These water quality impacts have contributed to urban migration and public demonstrations that shape political and security dynamics in the region.

UN activities

The UN is engaged with the Government on several strands of work covering water, sanitation and hygiene, water resources management, water quality and management of water related disasters.

We are responding to humanitarian needs of refugees, IDPs and returnees and other citizens as well as helping the government to address structural problems and to facilitate regional dialogue and cooperation on both water and the environment.

Concretely, this means improving access to safe drinking water in cities such as Basra; rebuilding irrigation infrastructure; promoting Climate Smart Agriculture with extension officers in the field and facilitating capacity building within the Ministry of Water Resources and other ministries

Recommendations

Inclusive water governance is key to addressing the water problem in Iraq.

Water managers at all levels need to ensure communities are resilient to water scarcity pressures as well as water excesses, all the while ensuring the natural system and its associated ecosystem services are protected and enhanced.

Water diplomacy channels need constantly to be kept open for transboundary exchange and negotiation as key for securing the water inflow of the Euphrates and Tigris.

Water pollution and water use inefficiency on the other hand can fully be addressed on a purely domestic level, while focusing on:

• Participatory dialogue processes engaging key stakeholders.
• Modernizing and expanding water treatment plants, supporting enforcement frameworks, and engaging in public awareness campaigns and dialogue.
• Modernizing and repairing outdated and damaged water infrastructures as well as water-intensive industries, and
• Investments in water and irrigation infrastructure as well as innovative irrigation practices.

Climate change adaptation might be an avenue for cooperation that goes beyond resource distribution and water quotas, and joint multi-purpose projects could help manage remaining water resources in a more efficient way.

I call on all Iraqi stakeholders to jointly address water scarcity immediately.  

July this year the General Assembly declared access to a clean and healthy environment a universal human right, specifically recognizing access to clean water. 

I repeat, water must not be source of conflict, but an area of cooperation.         

I can assure you that the UN family in Iraq – UNAMI and the UN Country Team - stands ready to consider requests for support in any of the areas that will be addressed over these next two days.

Adding to that, I am inviting all stakeholders ranging from non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, and the private sector to participate in next year’s UN 2023 Water Conference, which will take place at UN Headquarters in New York, 22-24 March 2023, and co-hosted by Tajikistan and the Netherlands.  

Thank you.