Iraq: ISIS 'Water War' Draining Marshes in Southern Iraq

Jul 7, 2015 | Kesavan Unnikrishnan, Digital Journal
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In 1991, then-President Saddam Hussein drained the marshes of southern Iraq in order to punish the indigenous Shi'ite marsh Arabs who had revolted against him. Up to 500,000 marsh Arabs who herded water buffalo and cultivated rice since the ancient Sumerian civilization were forced to live in refugee camps in other parts of Iraq and Iran. With the breaching of dikes by local communities subsequent to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, the marshes were re-flooded and many local buffalo breeders returned to the area. However, the marshes never expanded above 30 percent of their initial size and the population never reached their pre-1990 levels.