Iraq’s Water Wars

Al Jazeera English, People & Power (2023)

The year 2023 marked the worst drought recorded in Iraq’s modern history. It accelerated an existential struggle in Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilization, pitting water-stressed communities against one another as they fought for the survival of their crops and livestock. Rather than addressing the root causes, authorities reacted the way they always have in times of crisis - using force. The government slashed water allocations for farming, with security forces cracking down on violations. Meanwhile, the oil sector continued to thrive, with oil companies injecting millions of barrels of oil into the ground every day to produce oil.

This two-part documentary investigates the government’s response to the water crisis, while shedding light on its devastating impact on rural communities.

Role: Director, Correspondent, Producer