BAGHDAD, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Saturday unveiled the Regional Initiative to Protect the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, a strategic move aimed at preserving the flow and sustainability of the two historic waterways.
The initiative was announced during the Fifth Baghdad International Water Conference, currently held in the Iraqi capital Baghdad under the theme "Water and Technology: A Partnership for Development." with the participation of international companies and institutions concerned with water issues, according to a statement issued by al-Sudani's media office.
Al-Sudani said that the initiative prioritizes innovation and the use of science and technology to confront climate change, calling for partnership at both the national and international levels in water management to develop sustainable, long-term solutions.
"We are determined to overcome obstacles and achieve lasting water security for Iraq, advancing development that meets future needs, serves our people's interests, and opens the door to greater regional partnership and mutual benefit," al-Sudani said.
Iraq has been grappling with a severe water crisis, driven by prolonged drought, declining rainfall, and climate change. The country has also repeatedly raised concerns over inconsistent water flows from rivers originating in neighboring countries, a factor contributing to desertification, increased dust storms, and the abandonment of agricultural land by local farmers.
Originating in the Armenian Highlands, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers form one of the most significant river systems in West Asia. Rising in eastern Türkiye, both rivers carve their way through deep valleys and rugged terrain, flowing across the uplands of Syria and northern Iraq before descending into the central plains of Iraq and eventually emptying into the Gulf.
The lands nourished by these two rivers, namely Mesopotamia, were the cradle of some of the world's earliest civilizations. Today, the two river remain Iraq's primary water source. ■
