Iraq’s neighbors should be engaged in meaningful discussions on water sharing, Plasschaert says

 
Baghdad-INA
 
The United Nations Special Representative in Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, called today, Tuesday, for Iraq's participation in productive discussions on water sharing, stressing that the United Nations family in Iraq is working in partnership with Iraq to manage water resources and reduce its negative effects on the environment.
 
Plasschaert said in a statement, received by the Iraqi news agency (INA)," Everywhere on our planet, water is life. In Iraq, the availability and proper management of water resources are particularly significant. Last month, I visited the Mesopotamian Marshes in the south, witnessing firsthand the many challenges Iraq is facing”.
 
She added," Lower precipitation, water shortages, salinization of soils and water, ineffective management of resources, and population growth have all taken their toll, throughout the country. In addition to climate change, the active reduction of water inflows from neighboring countries is another serious threat".  
 
The harsh reality is that water scarcity is not only a present danger but also a risk multiplier: its potential impact on poverty, displacement and conflict has grave implications for Iraq’s stability and long term prosperity, Plasschaert affirmed.
 
She pointed out, The theme of this year’s World Water Day is “groundwater, making the invisible visible”, highlighting a precious, and too often overlooked, resource. As the main source of fresh water, groundwater must be protected and preserved.
 
She affirmed,"Earlier this month, the 2nd Baghdad International Water Conference convened in Iraq, making significant and wide-ranging recommendations. This is certainly a good start that must now be followed by actions, adding “All stakeholders across the political spectrum must prioritize this as a shared responsibility, a crucial file to be urgently and seriously addressed, overcoming the political divide. Also, and importantly, Iraq’s neighbors should be engaged in meaningful discussions on water sharing and resource management.”
 
She concluded her statement by affirming “The United Nations family in Iraq is working in partnership with Iraq on water resource management, and all of us can do our part by seeking to limit our impact on the environment”.