Turkish dam putting Iraq’s water supplies in danger

Noura Bendari

Iraqi officials are escalating their criticism of the Turkish government, days after Turkish authorities declared that they would start filling the reservoir of Ilısu, a gigantic concrete-face rock-fill dam on the Tigris.

The construction of the dam and its filling puts Iraq’s water supplies from the Tigris in danger. This is why Baghdad is asking Ankara to secure its water supplies.

Nevertheless, requests in this regard are falling into deaf ears as Turkey moves ahead with its dam plans.

Iraq counters by threatening to refer the issue to the United Nations Security Council.

On June 27, Spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources Aun Ziab Abdullah said bilateral talks with Turkey are still sufficient for the time being.

He called on Ankara to be realistic and hoped Iraq and Turkey would reach a deal on the equitable distribution of water soon.

However, Abdullah said his country would have to refer the issue to the Security Council if it fails in reaching a deal with Turkey.

“This will happen if there is intransigence on the part of Turkey,” Abdullah said.

This is not the first time Iraq makes threats on the same issue. The Arab country warned previously against the prospect of water wars.

On May 29, Deputy Head of the Committee on Agriculture and Water in the Iraqi parliament Mansour al-Buaiji asked the Iraqi government to put pressures on Ankara to increase Iraq’s share of the water of the Tigris.

He said water shortages were as dangerous as the threat made by the presence of the Islamic State group in Iraq.

“Water shortages will destroy the Iraqi agricultural sector,” Iraqi newspapers quoted al-Buaiji as saying.

He referred to major economic interests for Turkey in Iraq.

Al-Buaiji called on the Iraqi government to use these interests in putting pressure on Turkey to give Iraq more water.