Whose Water Is It Anyway: How Political Violence and Corruption Has Become Iraq’s Existential Challenge
Iraq’s Lake Habbaniyah was once a popular resort destination, attracting local and international celebrities. It was developed in 1981 and featured a hotel, bungalows, and gardens.
The 1970s saw the construction of Lake Razzaza to absorb Lake Habbaniyah’s excess water. However, both lakes are now rapidly shrinking.
Despite the increasing number of dead fish that litter the shores, a network of unlicensed fish farms and newly irrigated farmland are emerging nearby.
It is not just tricky but perilous for the Iraqi government to challenge those diverting the lakes’ water.
