Iraqis are rejoicing as heavy rainfall brings an end to five years of drought. The vast Darbandikhan dam, situated on the River Sirwan in the autonomous Kurdistan region of northeast Iraq, is among several reservoirs now nearing capacity once again.
Reservoir director Saman Ismail stated, “The dam’s storage capacity is 3 million cubic meters. Today, it’s only 25 cm away from being considered full.” Located south of Sulaimaniyah city, the Darbandikhan dam is anticipated to reach full capacity in the coming days, with water levels just a few meters below the road running along its edge.
The last time Darbandikhan reached full capacity was in 2019. Since then, Iraq has endured years of drought and water shortages, attributed to climate change and dam construction upstream beyond Kurdistan’s borders, according to Ismail.
Iraq’s central government in Baghdad attributes reduced water flow in the country’s rivers to upstream dams constructed in Iran and Turkey, alongside rising temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns. However, this winter’s abundant rains have brought relief to Iraq, identified by the United Nations as one of the five countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Despite the positive turn, torrential rains have caused flooding in Kurdistan’s regional capital, Irbil, claiming four lives. In Diyala province, houses were destroyed due to floods.
Ali Radi Thamer, director of the dam authority at Iraq’s water resources ministry, reported rising water levels in most of the country’s major dams. At Mosul dam, Iraq’s largest reservoir, with a capacity of approximately 11 billion cubic meters, Thamer noted a significant increase in storage levels, benefiting from recent rains and floods.
Thamer stressed the positive effects of increased water reserves on various sectors, including agriculture, potable water production, and the revival of southern Iraq’s marshlands. However, he warned against complacency, noting previous dry seasons following periods of increased reserves.
Water scarcity remains a pressing issue in Iraq, exacerbated by worsening climate change. While recent rainfall has brought temporary relief, Thamer cautions against viewing it as a permanent solution.
Near Darbandikhan, despite some damage caused by flooding, owner Aland Salah sees the situation optimistically, acknowledging the blessing of the Sirwan river’s water and the beauty it brings to the area.
