In Halabja, the struggle against Daryan Dam continues
With the completion of the Daryan Dam immenent, civil society in the city of Halabja in Iraqi Kurdistan held a special seminar to discuss the negative impacts of this Iranian-built dam on the Sirwan River. Taking place on 19 December 2016, the seminar was organized by Al-Mesalla in cooperation with Civil Organisation for Individual Awareness, […]
New Report Highlights the Disastrous Impact of Daryan Dam on Iraq
Statement by the Save the Tigris and Iraqi Marshes Campaign 28 October 2016 The Save the Tigris and Iraqi Marshes Campaign have released a report on the impact of the Daryan Dam on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The Daryan Dam is a large dam currently under construction on the Sirwan River in Iran. The […]
Save The Tigris launches a new report on the Makhoul Dam.
Amsterdam, June 2022 The Iraqi government is intensifying its efforts to complete work on the Makhoul Dam. This water infrastructure is being built on the Tigris about 230 kilometres north of Baghdad, situated between the estuary of the Lesser Zab and Qaryat al Khaḑraniyah, north of Shirqat district. Construction has been progressing as the Ministry […]
As Its Rivers Shrink, Iraq Thirsts For Regional Cooperation
HALABJA, Iraq — “Where we are standing right now, there should be a river,” says Nabil Musa, gesturing at a dried-up riverbed in northern Iraq. For the environmental activist, the reason the once swirling Sirwan river has dwindled to a trickle lies across the border in Iran, which he says is “controlling all” of the […]
Meet the Iraqi Activists Who Are Standing Up for the Environment
Water Fannack Author: Sara Manisera Reviewer : Juliane Schillinger The year 2018 was marked by a severe drought in Iraq, a formerly water-rich country. The water crisis is complex, however, with multiple causes and the potential for future conflicts. A group of young Iraqi activists is trying to raise awareness about the issue. Another Iraq is possible, the […]
Press statement by the Save the Tigris and Iraqi Marshes Campaign 1 August 2017 Recently, dams have been seriously affecting the water courses of Iraq. The shared rivers of Iraq have seen decreases in water flows due to Iranian dams. In June, the Iraqi-Kurdish border region experienced large cuts in water flows of the Little […]
After Cutting of Water Flows, Iraqis Turn to Protest against Iranian Dams
This week, a group of protesters demonstrated near the Iranian Consulate in Sulaymaniyah. Their issue: Iranian dams that have stemmed the water flows to the Kurdistan Region. The particular reason is the construction of the hydro-electric Sardasht Dam in Iran. Starting from June 23 2017 this Dam had lead to a reduction of 80% in […]
The Border Wetlands of Iran-Iraq: an Environmental Crisis with Regional Consequences
By Toon Bijnens, Save the Tigris Campaign For years experts have warned of the destructive impact of Iran’s policies of river flow alterations on the southeastern provinces of Iraq. In 2012 the UK-based International Centre of Development Studies in a report argued the environmental effects will be huge, and even Iranian officials have warned of […]
Water Activists Meet Privately with the Minister of Water Resources, Dr. Hassan Al-Janabi
Activists from the Save the Tigris Campaign, Iraqi Social Forum and Humat Dijla were invited to meet with Iraqi Minister of Water Resources, Dr. Hassan Al Janabi, in Baghdad. They discussed shared concerns of civil society and the government on water issues. The minister expressed his satisfaction with Iraqi youth and civil society’s interest in […]
Fostering solidarity across borders to protect the shared rivers of Mesopotamia!
Statement by the Save the Tigris and Iraqi Marshes Campaign Increasingly water resources are becoming a source of conflict in the region of Mesopotamia. Rivers have become strategic assets over which states and other actors wage war: water is being used for political purposes. From its inception, Save the Tigris and Iraqi Marshes Campaign has […]
The Second Season of Humat Dijlah Festival: An Important Space to Raise Water Issues
Ali Alkarkhi, Humat Dijla On the occasion of the International Day of Action for Rivers (14th of March) and the World Water Day (22nd of March) the fifth anniversary of the Save the Tigris and Iraqi Marshes Campaign – launched five years ago – was celebrated. The Iraqi Social Forum and Humat Dijla Assocation organized […]
The Iraqi Minister of Water Resources comments on Ilisu Dam – a positive or negative development?
By Ismaeel Dawood Statements issued by government officials, especially ministers, are considered as evidence of significant positions of their countries on sensitive issues. Governments in general are very careful to release any statement that may harm its own interests. Paradoxically there is a long history of statements by government representatives against their own countries’ rights, […]