Prolonged water drought forces thousands to urban poverty in Iraq

The capital of Dhi Qar province, Nasser Jabbar, a former herder and farmer, now resides in a dilapidated house with his ten children, emblematic of the severe poverty faced by those displaced due to climate change in south and central Iraq.

A four-year consecutive drought, coupled with declining rainfall, has led to significant internal migration, with 21,798 families (130,788 individuals) remaining displaced across 12 governorates in central and southern Iraq, according to an International Organization for Migration report.

Many, like Jabbar, abandoned their agricultural roots, facing unemployment and urban destitution. Despite Iraq’s oil wealth, poverty remains pervasive, exacerbated by the impact of upstream dams built by neighboring Iran and Turkey, dramatically lowering water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The deputy governor of Dhi Qar, Ghassan al-Khafaji, highlights “significant internal migration” in the province due to water shortages, resulting in the construction of 3,200 housing units on the outskirts of Nasiriyah to accommodate 20,000 to 25,000 people.

The influx of displaced individuals has strained urban infrastructure, aggravating unemployment and raising concerns about social unrest. With limited economic opportunities, especially for the youth, there is a risk of reinforcing feelings of marginalization and injustice. The United Nations has warned of the potential for “social unrest” due to climate factors, emphasizing the need for resource management plans, effective governance, and investment to address forced migration.

In a country of 43 million people, nearly one in five Iraqis now lives in an area grappling with water shortages. The impact extends beyond economic challenges, as families struggle to afford education for their children, exemplified by Qassem Jabbar, Nasser’s brother, who, since leaving his village three years ago, has been unable to work, with only two of his ten children able to attend school due to financial constraints.