DARBANDIKHAN, Kurdistan Region — A lack of water flowing from neighbouring Iran spells trouble for Sulaimani's Darbandikhan dam and those who depend on it, with the dam manager saying Halabja residents will face a drinking water "crisis" next month.
Iraq's Minister of Water Resources visited the dam on Thursday, saying neighbouring countries should not withhold water to Iraq.
"We understand that all countries in the region are gripped by water shortages, [but] countries from which we get water should not withhold it and ignore us," he said.
On some days, the water flow from the Sirwan river, which originates in neighbouring Iran, "stops completely," said Rahman Khani, who manages the dam.
"When the water levels decline at Darbandikhan dam next month, Halabja will face a big drinking water crisis," he added.
Iraqi officials will meet with neighbouring countries to discuss the issue of water and borders, the foreign ministry said on Saturday.
"Water shortages can't be solved by the government's plan because they only provide temporary solutions to a very small number of people," said Akram Ahmed, general manager of the Kurdistan Region's dams.
Kurdish officials have already warned that the Region is in the midst of a water crisis, a problem which is also seen in central and southern Iraq.
Translation by Sarkawt Mohammed and Anis Ari
