Rashid pledges to put Iraq's water crisis in focus at New York Water Conference
Shafaq News / Iraq's President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid highlighted the urgent need for executive and legislative measures to safeguard water security, and emphasized the significance of embracing modern irrigation methods.
The Presidency of the Republic released a statement confirming that the President chaired an extensive meeting on the water crisis in Iraq on Sunday, which was attended by several notable figures including the Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Diab Abdullah, the new ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Iraq, Johannes Lindert Sande, a representative of the World Bank, and the director of the World Bank office in Baghdad, Muhammad Al-Ani.
The discussion revolved around addressing water scarcity and the employment of modern techniques and tools in irrigation to support efforts aimed at boosting Iraq's water supply.
During the meeting, Rashid underscored the importance of the upcoming New York Water Conference and urged the need to raise Iraq's water profile, emphasizing the problems that water scarcity and climate change create.
He also emphasized the need for practical measures to reach agreements with neighboring countries to ensure fair water distribution.
The statement further reinforced the importance of finding effective executive procedures and binding legislation to safeguard water and agricultural security in the country.
The attendees also highlighted the importance of community awareness to rationalize water consumption, eradicate wastage, and end violations on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their branches.
Rashid called for the adoption of modern irrigation methods to upgrade agriculture in the country and to provide sufficient water supply for the marsh areas to conserve water resources and guarantee their availability for future generations.
The attendees agreed on the significance of the President's participation in the forthcoming Water Conference for Sustainable Development in New York.
Minister of Water Resources Aoun Diab Abdullah stated that Iraq has agreed to exchange information with Iran and to establish measurement stations on border rivers.
With Iraq being among the countries most affected by climate change, drought, and desertification, preserving water resources and improving water security is essential, and requires the cooperation of all governmental and non-governmental institutions to ensure a sustainable future for Iraq's water supply.
