UN stresses Iraq suffers from real water crisis
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, during her participation in Iraq Climate Conference. Photo: UN/Prime Minister’s press office
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The United Nations stressed that Iraq is suffering from a real water crisis, calling for collective action to find solutions to this crisis, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.
The statement was made on Sunday by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, during her participation in Iraq Climate Conference held in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.
“There is an urgent need to find solutions to the water crisis in Iraq,” Plasschaert stated.
“We must all move in order to find solutions, and Iraq cannot do this alone,” Plasschaert elaborated.
“The salinization of water and soils, desertification and the disappearance of arable land are nothing less than existential environmental concerns. As I said, here in Iraq, the water crisis is real,” Plasschaert clarified.
“Climate change and water scarcity are threat multipliers. If left unaddressed, they will come with heightened risks of poverty, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, displacement, forced migration, instability and conflict. To be clear, it is already happening. Iraq is acutely vulnerable,” Plasschaert illustrated.
The UN official stressed that Iraq needs the support of international organizations, international financial institutions, neighboring countries or others.
The UN representative pointed out that there are many agencies and programs that aim to help Iraq mitigate the repercussions of climate change.
Earlier on Sunday, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, delivered a speech in the Iraq Climate Conference, in which he announced a major afforestation initiative.