Drought, heavy snow affect thousands of displaced Iraqis

Extreme weather conditions and severe drought in different Iraqi governorates have affected thousands of people, forcing some to leave their homes behind, while others were left to struggle in the cold with no support from the government.

According to the local government of the southern Dhi Qar governorate, more than 135 families of farmers and herders have left their homes in the southern marshlands of al-Ahwar due to severe drought, which has destroyed their crops and killed their livestock.

In June 2015, the local government of Dhi Qar declared the southern marshlands a disaster area following a significant decline in the water levels of the Euphrates River

Badie al-Khayoun, mayor of the al-Jabayish municipality east of Dhi Qar, said in a press statement that the scarcity of drinking water in his town and its surrounding villages had forced half the water plants to stop operating.

"The villages and suburbs of al-Ahwar have been hit by drought," he said, "the livestock are dead, and people no longer have access to drinking water."

Khayoun blamed the drought on the water resources ministry's "poor handling" of the issue, suggesting that election campaigning was the real purpose behind the minister's visit to the area last week.

According to Khayoun, local residents of the marshlands continue to search for new livelihoods in other areas, as water scarcity has affected most of their main activities, such as farming, herding, fishery, and crafts.

In June 2015, the local government of Dhi Qar declared the southern marshlands a disaster area following a significant decline in the water levels of the Euphrates River.

Engineer Yassin al-Nassiry said that there were three reasons behind the drought in the southern marshlands that began in 2014.

The first is Turkey's policy towards Iraq's share of the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the second is the lack of a clear policy on water distribution in the south, and the third is how local officials are dealing with the crisis on a regional basis.

Tough winter

If it wasn't for the young activists and donors, we would be completely forgotten - Dhafer Marei

Meanwhile in northern and western Iraq, the lack of electricity and fuel has left dozens of refugees struggling following a cold wave and heavy snow.

With the lack of any significant government support or follow-up, young activists began touring the refugee camps in their own cars to check up on the refugees and give them donations.

"Checking up on the refugees has become a humanitarian mission amidst a total absence of Iraqi government bodies," activist Omar al-Duleimi told al-Araby al-Jadeed.

"The refugees mostly need warm clothes, blankets, and fuel for heating," he added.

"They are in a serious condition, and we have very limited resources, as we depend mainly on donations."

According to activist Sami al-Ani, children are the most vulnerable of refugees in this extremely cold weather.

"The lack of government support for refugees will lead to a humanitarian crisis," Ani said.

"They do not have warm clothes for their children, and they live in tents that cannot keep the cold out."

Ani also called on Arab and international humanitarian organisation to intervene immediately to save the refugees.

Dhafer Marei, a 45 year-old refugee in the city of Amiriyat Fallujah, told al-Araby al-Jadeed that the government did not support them at all, despite a lack of warm clothes and fuel.

"If it wasn't for the young activists and donors, we would be completely forgotten," he said.

Since the beginning of the Iraqi government's military operations against the Islamic State group in 2014, more than 3.5 million people have been forced to leave their homes in Anbar, Salahuddin, Diyala, and Mosul.