China's anti-desertification efforts inspirational: Iraqi minister

STORY: China's anti-desertification efforts inspirational: Iraqi minister DATELINE: June 17, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:15 LOCATION: Baghdad CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: various of China's tree-plating effortsvarious of forestsSOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): JASSIM AL-FALAHI, Iraqi Minister of EnvironmentSOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): JASSIM AL-FALAHI, Iraqi Minister of EnvironmentSOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): JASSIM AL-FALAHI, Iraqi Minister of Environment STORYLINE: Iraqi Environment Minister Jassim al-Falahi said China's experience in reforestation and fighting desertification has injected lots of inspiration into the Middle East country. He made the remarks on the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought marked by the United Nations on June 17 every year. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): JASSIM AL-FALAHI, Iraqi Minister of Environment "We really commend the great positive steps taken by the People's Republic of China, especially in the field of anti-desertification and forestry, and this vegetation cover is definitely o

Iraqi farmers face intensifying water crisis amid climate change

STORY: Iraqi farmers face intensifying water crisis amid climate change DATELINE: June 16, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:33 LOCATION: Baghdad CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a semi-arid river and farms that look cracked due to drought and water scarcity in Salahudin province 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): WALID ALI MOHAMMAD, Farmer 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): JASSIM AL-FALAHI, Minister of Environment 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): ALI RADHY, Spokesman for Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources STORYLINE: Among dried trees on his farm in Iraq's Salahudin province, north of Baghdad, Walid Ali Mohammad stood helplessly, complaining about the drought that killed his trees and animals and wiped out his family's only source of livelihood. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): WALID ALI MOHAMMAD, Farmer "My farm and crops have gone dry. We used to sell fruits for millions (Iraqi dinars), but now I don't have water and my source of livelihood has gone because of this. So I have to leave to find a new source of livelihood for my children.