Temperatures expected to soar to 50 degrees Celsius in southern Iraq

Iraq is grappling with a hot summer, with temperatures often exceeding 50 degrees Celsius, exacerbated by declining rainfall, rampant desertification, and frequent dust storms.

News

Dying waters: Climate change forces Iraq’s marsh families into urban struggle

Once thriving on the rich ecosystems of Iraq’s southern marshes, families like that of Naji Arhim have been uprooted by severe drought and water shortages. Generations of fishermen and buffalo herders have seen their lands turn to dust, pushing them into cities where their traditional skills no longer apply.

Features

Basra on the brink: Climate crisis threatens livability, farming, water security

Basra is facing a severe environmental crisis marked by extreme heat, water salinity, and agricultural collapse. With temperatures exceeding 53°C and salinity in the Shatt al-Arab reaching levels near seawater, the province struggles with water scarcity and farm failures.

Articles

Climate change forces over 10,000 families to flee southern Iraq farmlands

More than 10,000 families have been displaced from Dhi Qar province in southern Iraq since 2019 due to severe climate change impacts, including drought and water scarcity.

Articles

Dhi Qar allocates 50 billion dinars to revive struggling marshlands

The Dhi Qar Provincial Council approved a 50 billion Iraqi dinar plan on May 18, 2025, to fund development and service projects across six marshland districts.

News

Dust storms hospitalize hundreds across Iraq

Around 500 people were hospitalized with breathing difficulties in Kirkuk and Diyala alone

News

Iraq sandstorms to continue until next week: Meteorological Agency

Sandstorms are set to continue in southern and central Iraq until next week, with these extreme weather events set to become increasingly prevalent as the country grapples with the ramifications of intense desertification

News

Dust storm hospitalizes 8 in Erbil

“Due to the dust storm that has hit Erbil since yesterday, eight people have been admitted to the Erbil East Emergency Hospital due to breathing difficulties,” Saad Kamal, in charge of the Erbil Rizgari Hospital, confirmed to The New Region

News

Iraq says recent rain surge revived marshes, increased water reserves

The marshes, a UNESCO World Heritage site, have been severely affected by climate change. Increasing temperatures and drought have dealt great damage to the marshes.

News