Recently, Iraq has encountered extremely high temperatures and heatwave. The daytime temperature in many places has continued to soar. The highest temperatures in Baghdad and Basra have exceeded 45 degrees Celsius one after another. Due to the destruction of Iraq’s power infrastructure by the war and the restrictions on external energy imports imposed by the United States against Iran, Iraq’s power supply is difficult to guarantee, and residents’ lives have been seriously affected.
The highest temperature in the southern Iraqi city of Basra reached 48 degrees Celsius on the 8th. The day before, the highest temperature in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, broke 45 degrees Celsius. The local meteorological department predicts that the temperature in Baghdad may reach 50 degrees Celsius next week.
Under the high temperatures, the daily lives of residents in many places have been seriously affected. At the same time, there is still insufficient power supply in Iraq. It is difficult for ordinary people to pay the high cost of using air conditioners. The health risks for the local elderly and people with underlying diseases are increasing.
Asadi, environmental activist
After the United States launched the Iraq War in 2003, the Iraqi power infrastructure was destroyed on a large scale during the perennial war. The Iraqi government invested about 60 billion US dollars to rebuild the power infrastructure, but the effect was not satisfactory. At present, Iraq mainly relies on importing natural gas from Iran for power generation. However, due to the long-term economic sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States. Which restrict the delivery of natural gas import payments. The energy settlement between Iraq and Iran has been blocked, and the shortage of power supply in Iraq has been further aggravated. Iraqi people often need to pay high fees to seek electricity supply from private individuals during peak electricity consumption in the summer.
In addition, the continuous high temperatures and lack of rain have also caused serious damage to the natural environment in some parts of Iraq. In Dhigar Province in the southeast, local rivers and swamps have dropped. Due to high temperatures and drought, and their salinity has risen, eventually killing a large number of fish.
Asadi, environmental activist: Fish are dying in swamps and rivers due to heatwave, drought, high salinity (of rivers), pollution and reduced oxygen levels in rivers. This situation further destroys biodiversity.
Statistics from the United Nations show that Iraq is one of the five countries most vulnerable to climate change in the world. Some analysts pointed out that if the extreme high temperature weather and heatwave continues. The local natural environment, agricultural production and even the daily livelihood of the people will face further threats.
