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Drying Euphrates Cripples Iraq

Turkish, Syrian dams, Iraqi practices blamed

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 14, 2009 8:53 AM CDT

(Newser) – Iraqis are suffering as the Euphrates river dwindles, a result of Turkish and Syrian dams upstream, a 2-year drought, and Iraqi’s own mismanagement of its water supply, the New York Times reports. Farmers and fishermen have been ruined and key grain-growing land desiccated. “The old men say it’s the worst they remember,” says one fisherman.

Many blame Turkey and Syria, which have at least seven dams on the river. Turkey has lately doubled the flow into the Euphrates, bringing it to 60% of its average, but there’s no official agreement to maintain it. Others say Iraqis must improve their handling of the water, eliminating waste and improving drainage. Whatever the solution, it must come soon, warns a farmer.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

In this photo taken July 9, 2009, a woman checks her land in Latifiyah, Iraq. Below-average rainfall and insufficient water in the Euphrates and Tigris rivers have left Iraq bone-dry. (AP Photo)

In this photo taken July 9, 2009, children play at a canal in Latifiyah, about 20 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo)

In this photo taken July 9, 2009, a man crosses a canal in Latifiyah, about 20 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo)

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Our agriculture is going to die, our cities are going to wilt, and no state can keep quiet in such a situation. - Ali Baban, Iraq's planning minister

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 5 comments

Snarfeh

Jul 15, 2009 2:45 AM CDT

Something about the Euphrates drying up niggled and gnawed at my memory. It took me awhile, but I finally remembered doing a high school book report on "The Late Great Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsey. I found the book at a yard sale, but had never heard of it. I bought it, read it and decided it was PERFECT for a book report because I knew it would scare the shit out of my school mates to hear this apocalyptic religious shit. What I remembered from it was a bit about how the Chinese would use a dried up Euphrates River to march into and invade the Middle East or something along those lines. Ol' Hal wasn't sure at the time how the river dried up, but I have to wonder if he is aware of this now. And, after googling "Euphrates River China" and seeing some similar shit, I am also wondering if I should go FIND GOD lickety split...:::thinking::::.....naaahhhhh...if it's time for Imagetdown (Armageddon), I'm going to start casing the belongings of my friends, neighbors and others in case any of them rapture, thus leaving alllll their shit behind...

SBS

Jul 14, 2009 9:55 AM CDT

Future predictions concerning water are scary. As in the past wars will be fought over it. Too many people and not enough water is not good.

schmidtkoff

Jul 14, 2009 3:12 AM CDT

i agree. nature took pretty good care of herself before man decided to intervene and dam this and dam that. well i say damn them.

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Iraq • Turkey • Syria • drought • water • Euphrates • river • dams

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Drying Euphrates Cripples Iraq