170,000 Iraqis displaced in the south as worsening climate crisis takes its toll

The intensifying climate crisis has forced more than 170,000 Iraqis to abandon their homes in the southern provinces, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Rising temperatures, prolonged drought, and the collapse of agricultural livelihoods are driving families from rural areas into already struggling towns and cities.

The report highlights that the majority of those displaced come from Basra, Maysan, and Dhi Qar, provinces where rivers and marshlands are drying up at alarming rates.

For many, farming and fishing have been the backbone of their lives for generations, but depleted water resources and increasing soil salinity have left communities unable to sustain themselves.

Displaced families are now facing growing hardships in urban centers. Many lack adequate housing, and competition for limited jobs has increased tensions.

Aid groups warn that the scale of displacement could grow significantly if the government and international partners fail to implement urgent measures to secure water resources and provide alternative livelihoods.

Iraq is considered one of the five most vulnerable countries to climate change globally.

Experts warn that without large-scale investment in water management and renewable energy, displacement in the south will worsen, creating further instability in a country still recovering from years of conflict.

The climate-driven crisis is also fueling migration beyond Iraq’s borders, with some families attempting to move north or even cross into neighboring states.

Activists argue that the displacement is not only an environmental issue but a political one, pointing to weak governance and corruption that have left communities without long-term solutions.

As summer temperatures continue to rise above 50 degrees Celsius in southern Iraq, families still in their villages are being forced to make the difficult decision of whether to stay or join the growing tide of climate refugees.