Tigris and Euphrates shrink: Iraq's water crisis deepens

Iraq is grappling with its lowest water reserves in eight decades, the Ministry of Water Resources confirmed Sunday, citing a poor rainy season and drastically reduced flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as primary causes.

As Iraq endures rising temperatures and persistent droughts, largely driven by climate change, it also blames upstream dam projects in Turkey and Iran for the dwindling water levels in its two main rivers. 

“This year, our strategic reserves are only half of what they were last year,” Chamal said. Iraq currently has around 10 billion cubic meters of water in reserve, far short of the 18 billion cubic meters it usually holds at the start of summer.

To prioritize drinking water for Iraq’s 46 million citizens, authorities have again opted to shrink the agricultural footprint. This summer, just 1.5 million donums (around 375,000 hectares) of land will be irrigated — down from 2.5 million donums in 2024. 

This reduction will impact the production of maize, orchards, and rice, key crops for Iraq’s food security and rural livelihoods.

Regional Disputes and Management Challenges

While Baghdad highlights upstream dams as a significant factor, Turkey routinely accuses Iraq of poor water management, particularly wasteful traditional irrigation techniques. 

In an effort to address the crisis, Iraq and Turkey signed a water cooperation framework agreement in 2024, which includes joint projects for improved resource management.

The Tigris and Euphrates — rivers of myth and survival — have long nourished the land once known as Mesopotamia. Today, they are a source of tension and existential worry, as Iraq faces a future in which water is no longer guaranteed, and each drop counts.