IRAQ: IRAQI'S PRAY FOR RAIN AS COUNTRY SUFFERS FROM A SEVERE DROUGHT THAT HAS BADLY AFFESTED ITS CROPS

Record ID: 636756

  • Title: IRAQ: IRAQI'S PRAY FOR RAIN AS COUNTRY SUFFERS FROM A SEVERE DROUGHT THAT HAS BADLY AFFESTED ITS CROPS
  • Date: 2nd December 1999
  • Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (DECEMBER 2 1999) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. PAN UP PEOPLE PRAYING FOR RAIN LOOKING UP AT SKY 0.07 2. WS IMAM LEADING PRAYERS 0.18 3. LAS PEOPLE KNEELING IN PRAYER 0.22 4. SV SOUNDBITE (Arabic): SHEIKH ABDUL-RAZZAQ PRAYING: "We beg the God to bring rain to us and please do not leave us without rain." 0.29 5. SCU HANDS HELD UP IN PRAYER 0.32 6. MV PEOPLE PRAYING 0.36 7. CU/SCU PEOPLE PRAYING - WITH ONE MAN CRYING (2 SHOTS) 0.42 8. CU ROSARY 0.46 9. MV PEOPLE TURNING THEIR COATS AND CLOAKS AS A TRADITION, BEGGING GOD FOR RAIN 0.50 10. SV IMAM PRAYING 0.54 11. MV PEOPLE PRAYING 0.58 12. CU (SOUNDBITE)(English) AGRICULTURE MINISTER ABDUL-ILLAH HAMEED: "Of course, we are facing a serious problem because of the drought condition, last year, till now our condition is not so good because till now, the rain fall is not enough for plantation and cultivation" 1.31 13. MV LAND CRACKED BY DROUGHT 1.33 14. CU SOIL 1.37 15. LV RIVER DRIED UP 1.41 16. SV/CU SHEEP DRINKING FROM STAGNANT WATER FROM DRIED UP RIVER (2 SHOTS) 1.48 17. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FARMER SALEH MANHAL SAYING: "Most of our animals are dying because of drought, moreover the drought also affects our plantation." 1.57 18. MV GIRL PLACING PIPE IN WELL TO GET WATER OUT 2.00 19. CLOSE UP PIPE 2.04 20. SCU LITTLE GIRL 2.07 21. MV FARMER'S CHILDREN 2.11 22. SLV MAN SITTING DOWN AMONG DRIED UP CROPS 2.22 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 17th December 1999 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVABSXM4ZK0ZHDE1HETFCSBD62B
  • Story Text: President Saddam Hussein has asked Iraqis to perform a
    "Rain" Prayer, as the country suffers from a severe drought
    that has badly affected crops.

    Thousands of Iraqis, hit by the worst drought this
    century, gathered at the disused al-Muthanna airport in
    Baghdad on Thursday (December 2) to pray for rain.

    The mass prayer session was attended by top officials,
    including the ministers of agriculture and religious affairs,
    in response to a recent appeal by President Saddam Hussein for
    prayers to be held in Baghdad and other Iraqi provinces.

    "We beg thee God to bring rain to us and please do not
    leave us without rain," Moslems attending the Baghdad prayer
    session chanted, echoing the Imam's words relayed through
    loudspeakers.

    Iraqi wheat imports have reached record levels this year
    because of the drought hitting domestic crops.United Nations
    officials say the country faces disaster next year if the
    situation does not improve.

    "Of course, we are facing a serious problem because of the
    drought condition last year, till now our condition is not so
    good because till now, the rain fall is not enough for
    plantation and cultivation," Agriculture Minister Abdul-illah
    Hameedz said.

    Iraq, which is under U.N.-imposed sanctions because of its
    1990 invasion of Kuwait, needs four million tonnes of wheat a
    year.Three million are imported under an oil-for-food
    programme.

    According to FAO data, water levels in the Tigris and
    Euphrates rivers during the current drought have dropped to
    about 40 percent of average winter flows.Farmers say it's
    not just their crops which are suffering.Their livestock too
    is slowly dying.

    Similar prayers for rain are being held in Syria on Friday
    (December 3 1999), which has also been badly hit by drought.


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