Iraq
An afternoon at the iconic Martyrs’ Café in Baghdad
An iconic café in the heart of Baghdad has witnessed decades of change to Iraq’s history. Through it all, the place has remained a constant — a place for intellectuals and other customers to reflect and connect — a tradition its owner hopes to hold onto.
A newly launched news channel in Iraq tries to preserve the ancient Syriac language
Al-Iraqiya news recently started a Syriac-language broadcast in an attempt to preserve the ancient language, which derives from Aramaic, the original language of the Bible and Jesus. They are based in Baghdad. People at the network and in the Iraqi Christian community talk about what this means for them.
Iraq’s signature anbar rice is disappearing amid water shortages
Severe water shortages in Iraq are affecting the cultivation of the country’s signature anbar rice. The lack of water is being caused by a combination of climate change and geopolitics. The World’s Sara Hassan speaks with a farmer who can no longer grow the crop in southern Najaf province.
Parts of Iraq are drying up, impacting already vulnerable communities
Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources has warned that the country is facing its worst water shortage in a century. It said 7 million people are experiencing reduced access to water. Shrinking water levels, rampant salinity and contamination have left communities with no choice but to migrate.
