Climate change induced displacement increases in Iraq

(IOM)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the premier group working with the Iraqi government on the country’s displaced (IDP) problem. In recent years it has been documenting a new phenomenon which is people being forced out of their homes by climate change. The United Nations said Iraq is the fifth most vulnerable country to the environmental crisis.  In a July report the IOM noted that this new IDP population is increasing.

 

During the first half of June the IOM recorded 83,520 displaced in 10 provinces due to environmental degradation. That was up from 55,290 in October 2022.

 

The main causes of displacement were drought, land degradation, and rising salinity which is destroying farming, livestock and fishing. These factors are destroying people’s living and leading them to leave their homes.

 

Most of the IDPs are concentrated in the south. Dhi Qar with 4420 displaced families, Maysan with 4150 families, Qadisiya with 1622 families and Muthanna with 1478 families have the highest figures.

 

The Iraqi government is largely hapless in the face of this growing crisis. It announces plans all the time to deal with water shortage for instance, but none of them are realistic. In July for instance, the Water Ministry said it would release more water from dams and reservoirs and is talking with Turkey for it to increase the flow down the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. The problem is the country doesn’t have much water to begin with and Turkey and other neighboring countries have largely refused to make any concessions to Baghdad. Most importantly this is not a priority for the Iraqi political class. If they don’t care the government does nothing serious.

 

SOURCES

 

Arab News, “Iraq's reservoirs are drying up: water levels reach lowest in history,” 7/21/23

 

International Organization for Migration, “Climate-Induced Displacement - Southern Iraq, Data Collection Period: 1-15 June 2023,” 7/10/23

- “Drivers Of Climate-Induced Displacement In Iraq: Climate Vulnerability Assessment Key Findings, Data Collection Period: August-October 2022,” April 2023

 

Al Mada, “Water Resources Ministry: effort to activate water protocols with the Turkish side,” 7/12/23