❗️Turkiye and Iraq reach preliminary deal on sharing Tigris and Euphrates waters amid worsening drought

 ❗️Turkiye and Iraq reach preliminary deal on sharing Tigris and Euphrates waters amid worsening drought

Senior diplomats from Turkiye and Iraq reached a preliminary deal on Friday to share and manage water resources from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, as the region continues to grapple with severe drought conditions.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced at a joint press conference that the draft “framework” agreement on water management between the two countries would soon be signed in Iraq.

“We know and understand the difficulties you are experiencing. We are brothers and sisters in this region,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, adding that Turkiye is working to help Iraq tackle the crisis. “The waters of the Euphrates and Tigris [rivers] belong to all of us.”

The Tigris and Euphrates, which supply most of Iraq’s freshwater, both originate in Turkiye, and experts warn that climate change is worsening the shortages.

(The New Arab)