​​​​​​​2 Iraqi deputies warn of drought; call on the government to use the economic card against Turkey

On Saturday, the representative of the State of Law, Jawad al-Ghazali, warned of the repercussions of water scarcity and the lack of water revenues for the country, which may lead to the absence of an agricultural season next summer.

Al-Ghazali said, "There is a very big danger, due to the lack of water imports," noting that, "Forecasts indicate that next summer there will be no agriculture, which will affect the standard of living of the people of the southern governorates who depend on agriculture."

He added, "Iraq is one of the countries that share the water file with neighboring countries, but unfortunately there is no pressure on these countries, especially the Turkish side, to obtain Iraq's entitlement to water, noting that the government can exploit the economic file with the Turkish side, as the trade balance tends to reach $22 billion." to Turkey in exchange for a billion dollars for Iraq.

For his part, the deputy of the Oil and Energy Committee, Basem Al-Gharibawi, said on Saturday, that Iraq has entered a "critical stage"; due to water scarcity.

Al-Gharibawi added, "Only 30% of water entitlements enter the country, which is reflected in the southern governorates, including Wasit, which suffer from petrification of streams and rivers."

Al-Gharibawi called for "diplomatic action towards the upstream countries, in addition to using files and papers to pressure these countries, including the economic file, because Iraq is exposed to an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe in the event of continued water scarcity in this way," describing the movements of the ministries of water resources and foreign affairs as weak.

T/ Satt.

ANHA