SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said on Monday a budget would be allocated to cope with a possible drought facing the Kurdistan Region.
Authorities have warned that the Kurdistan Region could face shortages of water due to low rainfalls this year.
Talabani held a special meeting with deputy minister of agriculture and water resources, governors of Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok and Halabja, and other officials regarding the issue of drought in the Region, caused by low rainfalls.
The officials discussed the impact of a lack of rainfalls and drought and plans of the KRG and other related institutions to confront the issue, a KRG statement said.
“A special budget will be allocated and priorities are given to providing drinking water for citizens,” the KRG said.
The officials emphasized the need to allocate budget for building reservoirs to save water, the statement read.
They also decided to discuss the issue with the federal government and that the KRG should coordinate with neighboring countries through diplomatic channels regarding flows of water so as to alleviate the burden on the Region, caused by drought.
The directorate of water in Sulaimani said last week that the level of water had decreased in both Dukan and Darbandikhan dams because of inadequate rainfalls and changes in water streams flowing into both dams in the province.
