Water shortages spark protests in several Iraqi provinces as the crisis worsens under rising temperatures and prolonged drought. Iraq, home to 46 million people, is now facing one of its worst water shortages in decades. On Friday, more than 300 residents from Babylon’s al-Majriyeh village gathered near Hilla to voice their outrage.
They held banners and chanted slogans, demanding government action. The demonstrators claimed their taps have remained dry for over a month. Many accused authorities of ignoring their pleas for help. Saadoun al-Shammari, 66, said, “We have been without water for 35 days. Water scarcity has affected us for years.”
Another local, Kahtan Hussein, 35, shouted, “It is our basic right. We don’t want anything more. The pipes are dry, and our patience has run out.”
Water shortages spark protests not only in Babylon but also in Diwaniyah province. In recent weeks, residents from several southern villages held rallies, urging officials to restore access to clean water for drinking and farming.
The country’s Ministry of Water Resources warned that Iraq currently retains only eight percent of its water reserves. Officials described 2025 as one of the driest years since 1933. In fact, ministry spokesperson Khaled Shamal revealed in May that Iraq’s water reserves had hit their lowest point in 80 years.
Government officials blame the worsening crisis on upstream dams in Iran and Turkey. These dams, they say, have significantly reduced the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Historically, those rivers sustained Iraqi agriculture and provided vital drinking water.
Water shortages spark protests due to the long-term impact on farms. Many farmers have already abandoned their land. The government, in turn, has restricted farming to save limited drinking water.
As climate change continues to heat Iraq and shrink river flows, both rural and urban communities grow increasingly desperate. The government faces mounting pressure to act fast, as Iraqis demand urgent, lasting solutions to the nation’s deepening water crisis.
