ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Turkey will release water to Iraq based on a mathematical formula agreed upon by the two countries, an advisor to the Iraqi prime minister said Monday, amid a prolonged water crisis caused by reduced flows from upstream countries.

Iraq has historically struggled with water shortages, with authorities routinely blaming upstream countries for withholding water through dams on the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers.

Ankara has been blamed in particular for the crisis, with around 90 percent of Iraq’s water sources originating from the neighboring country. Earlier this year, the environment ministry called for international pressure on Ankara to increase water flows.

Torhan al-Mufti, an advisor to Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, said Monday that Turkey is set to release water into Iraq based on a formula agreed upon by both countries. “Iraq will receive a guaranteed but not fixed water share under this formula, a first in the history of water relations between the two countries.”

“This mechanism requires Iraq to submit detailed data on its water needs for agriculture, human and animal consumption, sustainability, industry, and the environment. Turkey will then release water accordingly,” he said.

Earlier this month, Iraq’s Water Resources Minister Muthanna al-Tamimi said that understandings had been reached with Turkey and Syria to increase water releases, amid a prolonged water crisis in Iraq caused by reduced water flows from upstream countries.

According to Mufti, negotiations are underway with Turkey, Iran, and Syria to finalize arrangements that will address the water inflows.

Iraq and Turkey in November signed an agreement to address Iraq’s worsening water crisis, which had been exacerbated by upstream dams constructed by Ankara along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

In June, the ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Syria on managing shared water resources, particularly the Euphrates.

The United Nations has ranked Iraq among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, while authorities have warned that water reserves have fallen to dangerous levels, making conservation and careful management essential.

Following his appointment as water resources minister in May, Tamimi stressed that his ministry will develop relations with upstream Turkey and Iran to secure water releases into Iraq.