Water Scarcity and Environmental Peacebuilding: A Lens on Southern Iraq

May 18, 2023 | Ali Al-Bayaa and Mostafa Mashhad
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The Tigris and Euphrates rivers are Iraq’s primary sources of water. However, both rivers originate in Turkey and flow through Syria before passing through Iraq. On average,Turkey and Syria contribute to 90 percent and 10 percent of the Euphrates, while Iraq, Turkey, and Iran contribute 51 percent, 40 percent, and 9 percent to the Tigris, respectively. This makes the rivers vulnerable to various factors, including upstream development projects, inequitable rationing and diversions, and water-quota tensions with neighboring countries. These challenges are compounded by rising demand for water amid Iraq’s soaring population, which has put significant pressure on already limited resources.