Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani affirmed: "The government has put the water file and addressing its climate effects at the top of its priorities."

Al-Sudani said in a speech at the Third Baghdad International Water Conference: "We inherited a heavy legacy in the water file, accompanied by climatic changes, and with the entry into force of the ministerial program, we have taken many measures to resolve and address this file."

He added: "The water crisis began to sound alarm bells in Iraq since the eighties, but the lack of transparency prevented society from educating about its dangers during the defunct regime."

Al-Sudani said: "Our discussions with neighboring countries focused on the language of constructive and fruitful dialogue to address this issue and ensure a fair and equal share in the management of water resources."

Al-Sudani added: "One of the basic solutions that we worked on is controlling the agricultural plan by rationing the use of water and preserving its sources according to fair and equal shares of agricultural lands."

He added: "Support for the upcoming agricultural plans will be exclusively limited to farmers who use modern irrigation systems to establish methods of water treatment and rationing."

Al-Sudani affirmed: "The decline in water levels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers requires urgent international intervention in which we need the efforts of all friends to help Iraq ensure its water security and the future of its generations."

Al-Sudani announced, during the Conference, the government's readiness to establish a higher council for water management.

The Prime Minister said: "We intend to go to the seawater desalination project to compensate for the shortage in water levels."

Source: National Iraqi News Agency