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.