A new constructed wetland in Thi Qar, southern Iraq, is helping 30,000 people access cleaner water and adapt to intensifying climate pressures, according to a joint announcement from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and Iraqi national authorities. The system, officially handed over this week, treats wastewater naturally while restoring biodiversity and supporting long-term water security.
Southern Iraq faces worsening drought, water scarcity, and desertification, making pollution control increasingly urgent. Until now, much of the region’s untreated sewage flowed directly into rivers and marshes, threatening public health and fragile ecosystems. The new “Islah” wetland offers a simple, low-cost way to filter and recycle wastewater through natural processes before it returns to the environment.
Iraq’s Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Diab Abdullah, said the wetland shows how nature-based solutions can meet water and climate challenges simultaneously. “It improves water quality, protects health, and creates habitats for biodiversity,” he noted, adding that similar systems could be expanded across Iraq to strengthen water security.
Jointly implemented by IOM and UNEP with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the wetland treats around 4,000 cubic meters of wastewater a day. Early monitoring shows sharp drops in pollutants and pathogens, turning a once-polluted site into a thriving habitat that supports aquatic life and reduces displacement pressures caused by environmental stress.
“This kind of project gives communities choices—to stay, work, and thrive despite climate stress,” said IOM Iraq Chief of Mission Pascal Reyntjens. UNEP’s Susan Gardner added that the initiative “proves how nature can support people” while advancing Iraq’s national adaptation goals. The handover to local authorities ensures the wetland will remain a key part of Iraq’s sustainable water management strategy for years to come.
