- Title: IRAQ-MARSHES Iraqi marshes face environmental threat
- Date: 28th August 2015
- Summary: NASSIRIYA, IRAQ (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MARSHES VARIOUS OF DEAD FISH VARIOUS OF DRIED PARTS OF THE MARSHES BASRA, IRAQ (RECENT) (REUTERS) DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION OF BASRA, HASHIM AL BADRAN, IN HIS OFFICE WOODEN SIGN READING (Arabic): "Agricultural consultant engineer, Hashim al Badran" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION OF BASRA, HASHIM AL BADRAN, SAYING: "Now water levels are fallen in huge percentages, and salinity increased because as you know the salinity in general is high in the mainstream, it is over 5,000 (ppm), so when the water dries, it will leave salt behind and as salinity increases, it kills the fish." NASSIRIYA, IRAQ (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF A BOY STEERING A BOAT CARRYING REEDS VARIOUS OF WOMEN GATHERING REEDS VARIOUS OF A HERD OF BUFFALOES BASRA, IRAQ (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION OF BASRA, HASHIM AL BADRAN, SAYING: "Those who own a group of cows or buffaloes in the marsh areas - even if there is enough plants and reeds to feed them, they face a new problem that the animal can't wash or immerse itself in the water. As you know buffaloes do that. In addition to the need for drinking water for the animals - and they need huge amounts - all that will overwhelm the herdsman. As a result of that we are facing a new challenge that people are leaving to other areas and then, it's sure, there will be conflict between them and other tribes about natural resources and it will cause security problems." NASSIRIYA, IRAQ (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FISHERMEN FISHING BASRA, IRAQ (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION OF BASRA, HASHIM AL BADRAN, SAYING: "The war that is taking place in the north and west of Iraq against the terrorist groups, is happening in the areas that we call the large dams, like Mosul dam. Now it's a military zone and Haditha Dam in Ramadi is a military operation zone, in addition to dams in Ramadi and Falluja." NASSIRIYA, IRAQ (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FISHERMEN DEAD FISH FISHERMEN CASTING THEIR NET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FISHERMAN IN THE MARSHES, SAYID SAFAA, SAYING: "The water is salty, our livestock died. We have to buy the water for our animals, spending 5,000 to 6,000 dinars a day, in addition to drinking water. All the fish in the marsh died. The water now is bad, all the families now are tired and frustrated about where to go. Some of them left and others stayed and are trying to fix the tragedy." DEAD FISH IN THE WATER EMPTY BOATS FISHERMEN FISHING
- Embargoed: 12th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA1W2AEVCRM1Y0B3582RKYBYZCT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Iraqi marshes are facing a drought and a high salinity level in the water, threatening aquatic life, livestock, and the livelihood of local communities.
Levels of water in streams feeding the marshes have fallen, increasing salinity and killing a large number of fish.
Hashim al-Badran, Director of the Agricultural Engineers Association of Basra, warns that the marshes are facing an environmental crisis.
"Now water levels are fallen in huge percentages, and salinity increased because as you know the salinity in general is high in the mainstream, it is over 5,000, so when the water dries, it will leave salt behind and as salinity increases, it kills the fish," Al Badran.
He said that the current situation is causing a displacement of local communities.
"Those who own a group of cows or buffaloes in the marsh areas - even if there is enough plants and reeds to feed them, they face a new problem that the animal can't wash or immerse itself in the water," Al-Badran says. "As you know buffaloes do that. In addition to the need for drinking water for the animals - and they need huge amounts - all that will overwhelm the herdsman. As a result of that we are facing a new challenge that people are leaving to other areas and then, it's sure, there will be conflict between them and other tribes about natural resources and it will cause security problems."
Al-Badran added that the advancement of the Islamic State is further complicating the situation.
"The war that is taking place in the north and west of Iraq against the terrorist groups, is happening in the areas that we call the large dams, like Mosul dam. Now it's a military zone and Haditha Dam in Ramadi is a military operation zone, in addition to dams in Ramadi and Falluja," Al-Badran said.
The Islamic State seized control of Iraq's biggest dam in August 2014. Capture of the electricity-generating Mosul Dam, after an offensive of barely 24 hours, gave the Sunni militants the ability to flood major Iraqi cities or withhold water from farms.
Local fishermen say many families left the area of the marshes, while others struggle to survive.
According to fisherman Sayid Safaa, "the water is salty, our livestock died. We have to buy the water for our animals, spending 5,000 to 6,000 dinars a day, in addition to drinking water. All the fish in the marsh died. The water now is bad, all the families now are tired and frustrated about where to go. Some of them left and others stayed and are trying to fix the tragedy."
The marshes in Iraq's south that were deliberately dried out during Saddam Hussein's rule, covered 9,000 square km (3,475 square miles) in the 1970s, but had shrunk to just 760 square km (472 square miles) by 2002.
Fed by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Marshlands are spawning grounds for Gulf fisheries and home to rare bird species like the Sacred Ibis.
They also provide a resting spot for thousands of wildfowl migrating between Siberia and Africa.
The Marsh Arabs have lived there for thousands of years but Saddam accused them of treachery during the 1980-1988 war with Iran and ordered their homeland to be dammed and drained.
Iraq started to suffer from drought almost two decades ago with its worst year in 2008. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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