Iraq's historic drought sparks severe water crisis in Basra

Iraq is having one of its worst droughts in nearly a century. A severe water crisis grips the southern city of Basra, where thousands queue for tankers as the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have seen their levels drop by nearly 30% due to low rainfall and upstream restrictions. This decline allows saltwater from the Persian Gulf to contaminate the Shatt al-Arab estuary, creating a desperate daily struggle for potable water. The saline pollution has decimated agriculture and marine life, while also causing skin diseases. Although a desalination plant provides some relief, experts warn that the government's response is critically inadequate. The situation risks repeating a 2018 mass poisoning outbreak, highlighting Basra's extreme vulnerability to climate change and poor water management. Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud AbdelWahed reports from Basra, Iraq. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #Iraq #IraqDrought #Basra #IraqWaterCrisis #GlobalWarming #IraqFarming #IraqFarmers #ClimateChange #TigrisRiver #EuphratesRiver #ShattAlArab #BasraWaterPollution