Baghdad (Reportase One) – Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid has revealed that the water crisis in Iraq threatens food security and risks causing major problems for his country.
“Cross-border irrigation is not sufficient to meet Iraq’s needs and reduced water flows have led to the worst water crisis in Iraq’s modern history,” Rashid said while speaking at the Water 2023 Conference in New York, Wednesday (22/3).
According to Rashid, the worsening drought threatens Iraq’s society and economy.
He explained that 40 percent of Iraq’s territory is being threatened by the process of desertification and has been exacerbated by the policies of a number of neighboring countries which are considered to continue to reduce natural water sources.
“The need for water in Iraq is expected to continue to increase in the next 10 years in line with the increasing rate of population growth,” explained Rashid.
Rashid asked the UN to take serious steps in minimizing the impact of climate change in Iraq.
“Iraq is coordinating with several regional countries to deal with climate change and we must work together through agreements and commitments to ensure a fair distribution of water,” said the President.
According to him, Iraq is seriously implementing a policy in water management and is still developing a number of other effective policies.
Quoting the official UN website, food security can be interpreted as a condition in which all people have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to support a productive and healthy life.
The United Nations explains that the key to food security is water, considering that 70 percent of the world’s water is used for agricultural activities which produce most of the food products.
Source: NINA-OANA
Translator: Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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source: www.antaranews.com
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