24 May 2025 | Baghdad, Iraq
“Your Excellency, Prime Minster Mohammed Shia Al Sudani
Your Excellency, Dr. Aun Dhyaib Abdullah,
Distinguished Guests, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honor to join you today at the 5th Baghdad International Water Conference, a vital platform that brings together national leaders, regional experts, and international partners to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: water security.
Today, we gather under the theme “Water and Technology: Partnership for Development” – a timely and urgent call to action. Iraq continues to face severe water scarcity, driven not only by climate change but also by water management issues, legacy infrastructure, and resource-intensive practices.
The consequences are far-reaching: from reduced agricultural productivity and internal displacement to increased fragility in already vulnerable communities. Water scarcity, quality, and security have become among the most critical challenges facing the country – threatening not only human consumption and economic development but also the ecosystems and the environment.
Yet, amidst these challenges, there is also opportunity.
The Government of Iraq has taken commendable steps – from launching the National Water Dialogue to hosting this yearly conference in addition to the cooperation efforts between the UN and Government of Iraq Water task forces.
Iraq’s accession to the UN Water Convention in 2023 marked a historic milestone, making it the first Arab country to do so. This progressive step signals Iraq’s commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable water governance.
The United Nations stands firmly with Iraq on this vital journey. Through the dedicated efforts of UN agencies together with national partners, we are supporting Iraq in modernizing irrigation and introducing water-saving technologies; rehabilitating marshlands and promoting eco-tourism; developing early warning systems; advancing climate-smart agriculture; and strengthening Iraq’s capacity for transboundary water negotiations.
As we work with the Government to…