“The Council listened to a presentation by the Minister of Water Resources, which included a plan to address the expected water scarcity for this summer, the impact of climate change on the level of water reservoirs, and the impact of the measures taken in neighboring countries, particularly the immediate start of the filling of the Ilisu Dam in Turkey,” reads a statement on the prime minister’s official Facebook page.
“The Council decided to take necessary measures on the enhancement of water security during this summer,” the statement added. It also agreed to provide water to meet the needs of citizens.
The Council directed the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Municipalities, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance, the Municipality of Baghdad, and the security authorities to implement the water scarcity plan.
The Council also called on individual provinces to improve the provision of electricity utilities following a spate of protests over the country’s regular blackouts.
Muqtada al-Sadr, whose Sayirun alliance with the Communist Party won the most seats in Iraq’s May 12 parliamentary election, earlier called on the government to urgently address the country's worsening water crisis.
In an official statement issued by his office on Sunday, Sadr warned the Iraqi people will not tolerate the mismanagement of utilities.
“If our [electoral] victory is the beginning for revenge from the Iraqi people, I will not allow that [to happen],” Sadr said.
“I am sure that denying water and electricity to the people will not cause them to kneel,” he said.
“We give the government a few days to look into the issue of water and electricity, or allow us to work to regain our rights,” the Shiite cleric added.
The water crisis has spread in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region as climate change and dams built by Turkey and Iran slow the flow of rivers into the country to a trickle.
There are growing fears up to seven million people could be displaced due to the dramatic fall in water resources.
Kurdistan and Iraq will need to prioritize water management as the resource is under increasing threat.
