The second round of the Iraq-Turkey joint committee on water meetings took place in Baghdad on Monday. During the meeting, the Iraqi Minister of Water Resources announced plans for water harvesting dam projects in the country.

Speaking at the second meeting of the Iraq-Turkey joint committee on water, Diab emphasized that Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani has prioritized water management alongside economic and commercial relations with Turkey on the government's agenda. 

Diab highlighted projects ready for implementation, including water harvesting dams, and noted the severe water scarcity in southern Iraq, which has affected irrigation projects in Maysan and Shatt al-Gharraf. 

He stressed the significant impact of climate change, particularly rising summer temperatures, on the water situation in the region.

While the Tigris River benefits from this year’s abundant rainfall, Diab expressed concerns about the Euphrates River, especially at Haditha Dam, and hoped for Turkish assistance.

"The situation in the Tigris River is good, but it is different in the Euphrates River, particularly at the Haditha Dam," Diab noted. 

The meeting also aimed to discuss the outcomes of the Prime Minister's recent visit to Ankara and to activate the terms of the framework agreement on water management. 

Diab expressed optimism about implementing projects with Turkey to address water scarcity and ensure fair water distribution among Iraqi provinces.

In mid-April, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Iraq for the first time in years, focusing primarily on water, oil, and regional security issues. 

The visit, which included meetings with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Sudani, aimed to address several contentious topics, especially the management of shared water resources.

Water scarcity is a critical issue for Iraq, exacerbated by upstream dams constructed by Turkey on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. 

These dams have significantly reduced water flow into Iraq, intensifying the country’s existing water shortages. 

Erdogan acknowledged the importance of water during his visit, emphasizing it as "one of the most important points" for discussion. He expressed a willingness to work towards resolving these water-related issues in response to Iraqi requests.

Farhad Alaaldin, foreign affairs advisor to the Iraqi PM, highlighted water management as a major topic for Erdogan's talks with Iraqi officials. The discussions aimed at finding cooperative solutions to the water scarcity that plagues Iraq, with an emphasis on seeking Turkish support to alleviate the situation.

Iraq is among the top five countries most impacted by climate change. The country is a committed to the 2015 Paris agreement to combat climate change and intensify efforts towards a sustainable low-carbon future.