STORY: This is Iraq’s historic marshlands.
The marshes are thought to be the inspiration for the biblical Garden of Eden, and were named a UNESCO world heritage site in 2016.
Marsh Arabs have called the area home for millennia and water is essential to their way of life.
They rely on it to fish and raise water buffalo.
Last winter brought an abundance of rain – which led to a considerable boost in water levels this year.
But still, local resident Mahdi Hussein fears that will change come summer.
“Every day, as soon as we wake up in the morning, we take a look at the water. Is it down or up? When we first wake up, we look to see the water. If you see that the water has increased, you feel at ease, and if we see it has decreased, we feel sad about that.”
Hussein says he lost a significant number of his water buffalo in previous years when water levels were low.
The marshes’ fluctuating levels have raised alarm to local wetlands expert Jassim al-Asadi.
“The percentage of inundation is estimated at between 40 and 45% in the marshes. Can we maintain this percentage? Can we maintain this level? I doubt that and I am concerned that next summer will be a dangerous summer unless there is a solid plan to manage the hydrological system in the marshes.”
The marshes were almost completely drained during Saddam Hussein’s rule.
He accused Marsh Arabs of treachery during the war with Iran in the 80s and drained the marshes to flush out rebels.
Many locals fled – but the marshes were reflooded after Saddam’s overthrow in 2003.
Around 250,000 Marsh Arabs have cautiously trickled back.
But now, they may have to leave once more.
Bashir Muabar lost his cattle last year. If water levels drop again – he says he won’t stay.
“This summer, I still do not know whether to stay or not to stay, only God knows. I’ll check the percentage of water, if I see the percentage of water decreasing, I do not stay here.”
Source Agencies
