"Our village water well is drying up, making it difficult to obtain drinking water for ourselves, let alone for livestock and agriculture," said Aisha Abdullah, a resident of Piazajar village in Kalar district of Garmian administration under Sulaymaniya northern province, during a seminar on the consequences of climate change.
"We are concerned about providing for the children and meeting their needs. The water shortage has greatly impacted our lives," she added.
In the seminar organized by the Women Journalists Network for Environmental Coverage - KirkukNow, she emphasized that they are among the most affected by the effects of environmental changes.
The seminar focused on the impacts of climate change and environmental issues on rural women.
Leila Ahmad, one of the organizers of the Women Journalists Network for Environmental Coverage - KirkukNow, stated, "The seminar addressed the consequences of climate change on rural women and emphasized environmental awareness to mitigate these consequences."
Aisha Abdullah, a mother of six who relies on agriculture and livestock, expressed desperation due to the drought. "We are running out of money. The water levels in our village have significantly decreased and are drying up."
As a result, Aisha's family now only has three goats left out of dozens of animals, as there is no pasture due to lack of rainfall.
"We have had to stop growing okra, peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers."
The rainfall in Kalar district, was 219 mm in 2025 up to April, which is 135 mm less than the previous year's 355 mm.
Apart from impacting agriculture, this has led to a decrease in the number of animals and available pasture, resulting in the cheap sale of animals, according to Aisha.
The Garmian region, which includes three sub-districts and is an administration affiliated with the Sulaymaniyah Northern Province, is known for its high temperatures in the summer and low rainfall in the winter, making it a challenging environment for greenery.
The impacts of climate change have intensified efforts in recent years to boost greenery to limit the impacts of climate change.
According to data from 2023, the percentage of green spaces in Garmian was only 5.7 %, which is far less than the global standard that has set the percentage at no less than 30%.
"We discussed the importance of avoiding disposable items and plastics that contribute to environmental pollution and climate change, with an emphasis on promoting green practices,” Ahmad added.
“These factors lead to rising temperatures, ultimately reducing water resources alongside decreased rainfall, directly impacting unemployment rates and leading to migration from villages to cities, as well as the spread of various diseases.”
Ten women joined the seminar in Piazajar village, located 32 km from the center of Kalar.
Nazira Mohammed, 58, another participant, expressed, "We have not experienced such a severe drought in recent years."
"This has made it extremely challenging for us to support our children. Their education is suffering. The burden is heavy on us women, as we worry about our livelihoods," she mentioned.
"We struggle to access clean water. We have to dig very deep wells to obtain water," she added.
The Women Journalists Network for Environmental Reporting - KirkukNow, dedicated to covering environmental issues and promoting environmental awareness, was established in January 2025 and consists of 18 female journalists.
The network was created as part of a program to enhance the role of women journalists in environmental reporting, which was implemented last year by KirkukNow Media Outlet, with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany.
