Iraq’s water reserves are down by half from a year ago because of poor rainfall and restricted flows in its two main rivers, the Ministry of Water Resources said on Thursday.
But the reserves will be enough to meet the demand for drinking water and for irrigating orchards and seasonal crops, the ministry’s adviser, Aoun Diab, said.
“Based on the data we have, Iraq is going to face a severe summer as the water reserves are still modest in spite all efforts made by the official parties,” Mr Diab told Iraqi media.
He blamed the low precipitation levels in the 2021 rainy season and in the spring, in addition to the trickle of river water flowing from Turkey and Iran.
“All that has left the water reserves at barely 50 per cent compared to last year,” he said.
About 90 per cent of the water feeding Iraq’s two main rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, originates in Turkey or Iran. Turkey is building several dams, while Iran has diverted tributaries that feed the Tigris.
For decades, Iraq has failed to convince both countries to reach agreements on how to ensure a fair share of water. Both argue that they, too, suffer from scarcity of water and that Iraq follows outdated irrigation methods.
A Turkish delegation is expected to visit Baghdad soon to discuss the water crisis, Mr Diab said.
Last year, the Water Resources Ministry said The Tigris and Euphrates could run dry by 2040 because of dwindling water levels and climate change.
Iraq is one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, partly because of its water insecurity. Baghdad signed up to the Paris climate accord last year
Below-average rainfall, insufficient supply and mismanagement have left the war-torn country dry for years, wrecking expanses of arable land, affecting drinking water and increasing the frequency of dust storms.
For the past few weeks, Iraq has been hit by a string of dust storms. They have put hundreds in hospital and caused flights to be cancelled or delayed.
Amid the crippling water shortage, Iraq decided in October to halve its cultivation area for winter crops.
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Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
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Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
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So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
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The low down
Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films
Director: Namrata Singh Gujral
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark
Rating: 2/5
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
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Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
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10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
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1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
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GREATEST ROYAL RUMBLE CARD
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50-man Royal Rumble
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Triple H v John Cena
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
Bombshell
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Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
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Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
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COMPANY PROFILE
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Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
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Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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