Water Scarcity in Iraq Causes Catastrophe for Biodiversity

The Iraqi Ministry of Environment confirmed today, Friday, that water scarcity has caused a catastrophe for biodiversity in rivers and marshes, while calling on the Ministry of Water Resources for assistance. The Director General of the Technical Department in the ministry, Najla Mohsen Al-Waeli, stated that "biodiversity is facing a real environmental disaster due to the low water levels in rivers, marshes, and wetlands." Al-Waeli added that "this has resulted in deteriorating water quality, reduced dissolved oxygen levels, and increased salinity concentrations." The ministry urged the Ministry of Water Resources to "find quick solutions to the water crisis." Iraq is suffering from a severe water scarcity crisis, which has cast a shadow over its rivers and marshes, including the Maysan Marshes, where currently only barren land suffering from thirst can be seen.