Following a visit to Dhi Qar Governorate, the Minister of Environment and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Helo Al-Askari, announced the launch of the Southern Project. This project, a joint initiative of three main entities—the Iraqi government, the Bahr Al-Uloom Charitable Foundation, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)—aims to address the impacts of climate change in southern Iraq. These impacts have significant repercussions on employment, rising unemployment and poverty rates, and widespread environmental consequences. The project, in collaboration with local governments, seeks to mitigate these challenges and implement solutions that will improve the environmental, social, and economic conditions in the southern governorates.
During the visit, Dr. Helo Al-Askari met with the Governor of Dhi Qar, Mr. Haitham Al-Hamdani, and several members of the Provincial Council and heads of administrative units, as part of monitoring the environmental situation and strengthening joint coordination between the federal government and local governments. The Minister also held an expanded meeting at the Suq Al-Shuyukh Environmental and Community Forum, attended by the General Supervisor of the Bahr Al-Uloom Charitable Foundation, Dr. Ibrahim Bahr Al-Uloom; the Head of the UNDP Mission, Dr. Titon Mitra, and his accompanying delegation; members of the Suq Al-Shuyukh Environmental and Community Forum; a number of local officials in the Suq Al-Shuyukh district; and the Advisor to the Minister of Environment and Director General of Carbon Economics, Dr. Nadhir Aboud Faza. The meeting addressed the environmental and climatic challenges facing the southern regions and ways to address them.
The visit included a field tour to the Umm al-Wada’ area in the districts of Suq al-Shuyukh and Karma Bani Saeed, where the minister was briefed on the reality of the marshlands and the environmental and climatic impacts they suffer from, stressing the importance of developing practical and sustainable solutions to preserve these vital areas.
