Biblical Rivers are Drying Up
The climate emergency is tightening its grip on Iraq, identified by the United Nations as the world's fifth most susceptible nation to climate impacts.
Fishing boats on dry land during the drought in Iraq. Climate change is making life difficult for local fishermen.
Written by Johannes Morken. Photo from Shutterstock. First published in Magasinet Stefanus #1 2024
Iraq, the cradle of ancient Mesopotamia, is renowned for its biblical rivers, the Euphrates and Tigris. These rivers, which have nourished early civilizations with their abundant agriculture, are now symbols of the country's environmental decline. The stark transformation Iraq has undergone over the past four decades is alarming.
Iraq's history has been marred by conflict, including a protracted war with Iran, two Gulf Wars, and the devastation wrought by the terrorist group ISIS. Today, however, Iraq faces a climate and environmental catastrophe that exacerbates with each passing year, leading to severe desiccation of its once-vibrant lands.
Rivers Run Dry
Since the 1980s, the amount of water in the Euphrates and Tigris has dropped by 40 percent.
- South of the capital, Baghdad, you can walk across the Tigris. The condition of the Euphrates is at least as bad, says Emanuel Youkhana. He heads the church relief organization CAPNI, which Stefanusalliansen supports.
Dams in neighboring countries also contribute to the reduction of water in the rivers that originate in Turkey.
Last year alone, 75,000 people moved from villages in southern Iraq to the cities in search of work. Survival in the villages is almost impossible due to drought and lack of water.
Wheat Fields Turn to Desert
The fertile wheat fields that once thrived south of Mosul, northern Iraq's largest city, have succumbed to desertification. In the Kurdish north, where CAPNI operates, the climate shift is evident from the reduced snowfall and escalating temperatures.
- In the city of Duhok, where I live, the hottest day 30 years ago never exceeded 34 degrees. Last summer it reached 44 degrees, says Youkhana underscoring the peril of the climate crisis.
Priests need to address climate and the environment, as do mosques.
Community and Faith Mobilization
Youkhana advocates for comprehensive education on climate issues in schools and urges religious leaders to preach environmental stewardship. The Assyrian Church of the East, along with CAPNI, is striving to elevate the climate crisis discourse and foster community engagement in environmental conservation as a moral imperative.
- Priests need to address climate and the environment, as do mosques. The climate crisis needs to be brought into the light of day. It's urgent, says Youkhana. - As Christians, we have a responsibility to take care of what God has given us.