Minister of Water Resources announces an increase in releases of Tigris and a breakthrough in solving water crisis

INA-  BAGHDAD

The Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Thiab, announced on Thursday, an increase in releases of the Tigris River, while pointing out that Iraq is about to overcome the water crisis.

"There is an increase in releases to the Tigris River," Thiab told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), noting that "releases in the Euphrates River are still few".

He explained that"great efforts exerted by the ministry helped to overcome the crisis, including the installation of a large pumping station on the Tharthar to take advantage of the available storage in the lake to strengthen the Euphrates River".

President of the Republic Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid stressed to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, on Wednesday, the need for Iraq to get a fair share of water.

Prime minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani also called on the Turkish side to increase water releases to the Euphrates River, praising the recent Turkish initiative to increase water releases to the Tigris River.

Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, during his meeting with Fidan, stressed that the drought threatens the economy and agriculture in Iraq, while Fidan pointed to reaching an agreement to form a Permanent Joint Committee on water.