How drought and oil expansion are eroding livelihoods in Iraq's Hawizeh Marshes

How drought and oil expansion are eroding livelihoods in Iraq's Hawizeh Marshes Submitted by Tamara Imad on Wed, 09/02/2026 - 20:57 As the Unesco-protected wetlands dry up, residents who have long depended on this fragile ecosystem are being pushed out Off In a corner of Halima Flaih’s property in the Iraqi village of Abu Khasaf, just steps from her family’s home, a small concrete structure sits empty under the blazing sun. Flaih and her daughters molded each concrete block by hand. Her husband raised the walls, and she plastered the interior, slowly building out a small gathering space where…