18 villages in Diyala evacuated due to drought
26/06/2012 19:08DIYALA, June 26 (AKnews)- Due to the drought that has hit the area, the entire residents of 18 villages of the disputed Mandali parish in Diyala have resorted to the nearby Baladruz town.
Out of the 20 villages in Tahmaya area of Mandali only two are currently inhabited, said Mandali Administrator Abdul-Hussein Qaralusi.
Qaralusi said the residents of the rest of the villages have left for Baladruz, seeking for jobs.
He added Mandali and its rural areas are now suffering from severe lack of drinking and irrigation water as a result of low raining rates and the lack of necessary water resources in the area.
The official expected that more villages will be evacuated as the agriculture sector is weakening more and more in the area.
Iraq has suffered from drought due to a lack of rainfall as well as low water levels in rivers that enter the country, such as the Tigris and Euphrates. Iraq accuses Turkey, Syria and Iran of being responsible for the low levels of water due to the building of dams.
By Mahmoud al-Jobouri
LL/AKnews
