Al-Sudani announces measures to address water shortage in Basra

BASRA — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani visited Basra on Wednesday with a high-level delegation of ministers and advisers to address Iraq’s ongoing water crisis, which he attributed to climate change, upstream restrictions, and domestic violations of water use regulations.

Speaking at a news conference following a meeting with local officials, Al-Sudani said the government had begun implementing “strategic” measures to mitigate the crisis, including efforts to advance a long-delayed seawater desalination project in the southern province.

“This is a crisis that recurs every season under various conditions, especially due to climate change and reduced water releases from upstream countries,” he said.

The prime minister also highlighted recent diplomatic engagement with Turkey, which he said had led to an increase in water flows to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. “This is expected to alleviate water shortages and resolve a significant part of the crisis,” he said.

Al-Sudani warned, however, that internal mismanagement remains a major obstacle, singling out the spread of unregulated fish farming as a significant source of strain on Iraq’s water resources.

“The volume of violations involving the construction of fish farming lakes has become excessive,” he said, adding that the government had launched legal proceedings and a campaign to remove illegal encroachments on river systems.

Statement from Al-Sudani’s media office:

Key Highlights from the Press Statement of Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani During His Visit to Basra Governorate:

🔷 The recurring water shortage crisis emerges every season under various conditions, especially due to climate change and reduced water releases from upstream countries.
🔷 We held a meeting with the local government of Basra, attended by relevant ministers and the governors of Maysan and Dhi Qar, to review plans and procedures for addressing this crisis.
🔷 Our government has initiated strategic solutions to confront the water crisis, whose impact extends beyond Basra to all southern governorates.
🔷 We reaffirmed strategic solutions, including the seawater desalination project, for which we authorized the Governor of Basra to sign the contract with the implementing company.
🔷 The executing company is now present at the project site and has already begun initial steps to implement this vital and strategic project.
🔷 We approved Basra Governorate’s request to include desalination projects in several administrative units.
🔷 We are launching a series of desalination projects that will meet the governorate’s drinking water needs.
🔷 Our government has taken multiple measures to address the water scarcity crisis, including diplomatic efforts with neighboring Türkiye.
🔷 Türkiye has increased water releases to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which is expected to alleviate water shortages and resolve a significant part of the crisis.
🔷 The volume of violations involving the construction of fish farming lakes has become excessive and a contributing factor to the water shortage crisis.
🔷 The government has launched a campaign to remove encroachments on river water and is taking legal action against violators.
🔷 All official institutions, oversight bodies, and citizens must cooperate with security agencies to eliminate violations threatening the supply of drinking water to the southern provinces.
🔷 We formed a technical support team, headed by the Chairman of the Advisory Commission, to monitor the water shortage file. The Council of Ministers approved the team’s proposed measures, including financial allocations to complete relevant projects.
🔷 We discussed procedures for implementing projects that will provide a fundamental solution to the water shortage crisis in Basra and the southern governorates.
🔷 The federal government provides full support to the local government in Basra.
🔷 Ministers and governors are working as one team to tackle the water scarcity crisis, and we hope it will be resolved through the solutions we have developed.
🔷 We are confronting this crisis with a sense of responsibility, away from media confusion that misleads the public.