Basra faces 'Frightening' levels of pollution-related diseases, officials say
Shafaq News/ Authorities in Iraq's oil-rich Basra governorate haveraised alarm over an escalating health crisis, describing"frightening" levels of pollution-related diseases, while warningthat untreated wastewater and industrial emissions are endangering thepopulation and environment.
Environmental Crisis in Basra
The Health and Environment Committee of Basra's Provincial Councilraised alarms over the high number of people suffering from diseases linked toenvironmental pollution. The Ministry of Environment described the discharge ofuntreated wastewater into the Shatt al-Arab as a “real threat” to publicsafety.
Ali Adnan, head of the committee, told Shafaq News Agency that pollutionin Basra has reached critical levels. “Basra suffers from contamination in theland, water, food, and more. There is nothing unpolluted in the governorate.The figures for disease rates are frightening, but we lack precise statistics,”Adnan said.
Wastewater Crisis
Adnan noted that the discharge of untreated wastewater into riversfurther contaminated the Shatt al-Arab waterway. "Some of the materialsconsumed by citizens are either untested or only superficially examined.Basra’s Environmental Department has fewer than 170 employees, insufficient fora governorate of this size. Basra’s border crossing alone requires at least 200staff," he added.
Adnan said the environmental sector in Basra is severely underdevelopedbut noted efforts are underway to address these issues, beginning withwastewater management. "There are nine pipelines discharging wastewaterinto the shores, which will be monitored for solutions," he said.
Water and Air Pollution Concerns
Loui Sadiq al-Mukhtar, a spokesman for the Ministry of Environment,identified water pollution as Basra’s primary issue, followed by air pollution.He attributed water contamination to high salt content and the discharge ofsewage into the Shatt al-Arab. “Sewage disposal is a major problem in Basra [apopulation of about 4 million] due to a lack of infrastructure. The Hamdantreatment plant handles only 20% of the waste, and citizens are discharginginto the rivers,” he said.
Air pollution from oil industries is also a growing concern. Al-Mukhtardescribed it as “one of the most dangerous types of pollutants because airtravels quickly, spreading contamination across a wide area.” He noted thatwhile most oil facilities are located away from Basra’s major cities, nearbyvillages are affected by harmful emissions, including sulfur oxides andhydrocarbon pollutants. "Though mitigated by distance, pollution levelsremain concerning," he added.
Progress on Gas Flaring
Al-Mukhtar pointed out that the Ministry of Oil is working to reduce airpollution by utilizing 65% of associated gas at oil fields and plans toincrease this figure over the next two years. "The goal is to reduce airpollution gradually, to eliminate it by 2028," he said.
Decades of Pollution
Environmental expert Falah al-Amiri, Director of the EnvironmentalJustice and Climate Security Program in southern Iraq, noted that pollutantshave been accumulating in Basra since the 1980s, exacerbated by increased oilextraction post-2003. “This has led to the spread of various diseases,particularly in rural areas,” he said.
Al-Amiri also highlighted pollution in water and soil, rising sealevels, and government neglect in addressing environmental policies andhealthcare services. He warned of a direct correlation between proximity to oilfacilities and disease prevalence. "Diseases such as leukemia, pneumonia, respiratoryinfections, and kidney failure are more common near oil extraction sites,"he said.
Al-Amiri emphasized the need for improved public health awareness andpollution control efforts in Basra.
