Facts and Figures from the Report
- Around 31 per cent of Iraq’s surface is desert. At the same time, 39 per cent of the country’s surface is estimated to have been affected by desertification, with an additional 54 per cent under threat.
- As a result of declining soil moisture and lack of vegetative cover, recent years have witnessed an increase in the frequency of vast dust and sand storms, often originating in the western parts of Iraq.
- Population growth is adding mounting pressure to existing food, water and energy resources.
- By 2030, the population is expected to grow to almost 50 million people, exacerbating these pressures even further.
- Sustainable access to safe water and sanitation remain a challenge: 83 per cent of Iraq’s wastewater is left untreated, contributing to the pollution of Iraq’s waterways and general environment;
- Years of conflict and violence resulted in chemical pollution and unexploded ordnances, which is affecting the safety and lives of an estimated 1.6 million Iraqis.
Check the following link to read/download the Full Report (in Arabic):
http://bit.ly/1n19C9i
Source: UNEP.
