Iraq informs UN of Iran’s water cut from Little Zab River

ERBIL, Iraq

Iraq said it has notified the United Nations of Iran’s halt of the flow of the Little Zab River into the country.

Originating in Iran, the Little Zab River traverses the northern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah before meandering its way to Kirkuk and eventually into the heartland of Iraq.

The river is a lifeline for a significant population, catering to the needs of 100,000 people solely in the Qaladze town.

But Tehran abruptly interrupted the water flow from the river into northern Iraq on Aug. 13, further exacerbating the country’s water crisis, especially during summer months.

“The water flow from the Little Zab River has ceased since Aug. 13,” Selam Omer, director of the Ranya District Water Department in Sulaymaniyah province, told Anadolu.

“We have been trying to store water in certain areas in order to prevent running out of water in Qaladze,” he said.

Omer termed Iran’s act to curtail water flow as an environmental threat, citing potential harm to fish ponds and agricultural areas along the Zab River.

- No UN response yet

Omer said Iraqi officials have informed the UN of Iran’s disruption of the water flow from the Little Zab River.

“If this continues, we will face worsening conditions in the future,” he said. "This could lead to an environmental catastrophe in our region.

Iraqi officials have not received any UN response yet.

Omer had earlier told Anadolu that Iran’s cut of water from the river in July had caused a 7-centimeter daily water level drop at the Dokan Dam, the largest in northern Iraq’s Kurdish region.

He said the water crisis in Iraq has been escalated by a recently constructed dam in Iran.

Omer complained that Iran does not provide Iraqi authorities with any details about its water disruption.

"We are not given any exact information. Iran cuts water whenever it pleases for periods up to 10 days.”

*Writing by Necva Tastan in Istanbul