Middle-East, Literally a Tinder-pot

Lack of water in Iraq means more refugees pouring into Turkey which gives Turkey more leverage over Europe.

Source

The reporter is standing in the middle of head-high weeds as he reports on the farmer not having enough water to keep his orchard alive. A LOT of the water was not going to the trees but was growing weeds between the rows and vines that were climbing the trees.

Another source reports "Much of the irrigation network dates back to the 1970s and 1980s and operates at around 60 percent efficiency, with huge losses from inefficient flood irrigation and unlined canals." 

"Major Turkish and Iranian dams have sharply reduced river flows, yet the Baghdad government has failed to respond with consistent, professional, water diplomacy. Corruption and self-interest among Iraq’s political elite weaken institutional capacity and create openings for Turkey and Iran to press for deals that serve their own priorities."

"Iraq’s water crisis is more than an environmental issue. It is a test of governance. The 2018 Basra crisis and subsequent protests showed how environmental neglect can quickly escalate into public health emergencies and political distrust." 

"Iraq’s water crisis is more than an environmental issue. It is a test of governance. The 2018 Basra crisis and subsequent protests showed how environmental neglect can quickly escalate into public health emergencies and political distrust. " 

This is not a new problem. If you do a search you will find that Al Jazeera has been posting almost-yearly predictions of "Worst ever, extinction event drought" in Iraq. 

Things are crispy-dry in Iraq and Iran.