Increased rainfall in Iraq this year has helped alleviate a water crisis in Basra and may avert the kind of large-scale and violent protests that afflicted the southern province last summer.

However, a leading rights group and many Basra residents accuse Iraqi authorities of doing little to address the underlying conditions causing the water shortages and pollution crisis, warning of outbreaks of water-borne diseases and continued economic hardship for the governorate's 4 million people.

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In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, wastewater flows in central Basra, Iraq. A leading human rights organization has accused Iraqi authorities of failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in Iraq's southern region. A report issued Monday by Human Rights Watch on the chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute Basra's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

Increased rainfall in Iraq this year has helped alleviate a water crisis in Basra and may avert the kind of large-scale and violent protests that afflicted the southern province last summer.
In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, wastewater flows in central Basra, Iraq. A leading human rights organization has accused Iraqi authorities of failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in Iraq's southern region. A report issued Monday by Human Rights Watch on the chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute Basra's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

The report, entitled "Basra is Thirsty: Iraq's Failure to Manage the Water Crisis," said a full year after Basra's violent protests , authorities continue to allow activities that pollute the province's water resources despite the health risks to residents. Promised government projects to improve water quality have failed to materialize due to mismanagement and corruption, it said, and warned of outbreaks of water-borne diseases if the problems are left unaddressed.
In this Sunday, July, 21, 2019, a man buys drinking water in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. A leading rights group says Iraq's government is failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in the country's south. A report released on Monday by Human Rights Watch on chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute the province's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

Aft years of meager rains, Iraq had seen its wettest winter in a generation, restoring freshwater marches in southern Iraq and bringing welcome relief to the local population. The deluge of the winter months has slightly decreased salinity in Basra's drinking water, as the revived rivers flushed the salt away and filled the marshes with fresh water.
In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, a man tries to fix a leaking potable water pipe ner his home, Iraq. A leading human rights organization has accused Iraqi authorities of failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in Iraq's southern region. A report issued Monday by Human Rights Watch on the chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute Basra's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

"We don't just say it is not fit for human consumption, it is not even fit for animal consumption, nor for agriculture and cattle," said Hassan Ayoub, a student at Basra University.
In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, potable water pipes mix with sewage at a garbage dump in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. A leading rights group says Iraq's government is failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in the country's south. A report released on Monday by Human Rights Watch on chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute the province's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, potable water pipes mix with sewage at a garbage dump in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. A leading rights group says Iraq's government is failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in the country's south. A report released on Monday by Human Rights Watch on chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute the province's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)
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In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, wastewater flows in central Basra, Iraq. A leading human rights organization has accused Iraqi authorities of failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in Iraq's southern region. A report issued Monday by Human Rights Watch on the chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute Basra's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

Increased rainfall in Iraq this year has helped alleviate a water crisis in Basra and may avert the kind of large-scale and violent protests that afflicted the southern province last summer.

In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, wastewater flows in central Basra, Iraq. A leading human rights organization has accused Iraqi authorities of failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in Iraq's southern region. A report issued Monday by Human Rights Watch on the chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute Basra's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

The report, entitled "Basra is Thirsty: Iraq's Failure to Manage the Water Crisis," said a full year after Basra's violent protests , authorities continue to allow activities that pollute the province's water resources despite the health risks to residents. Promised government projects to improve water quality have failed to materialize due to mismanagement and corruption, it said, and warned of outbreaks of water-borne diseases if the problems are left unaddressed.

In this Sunday, July, 21, 2019, a man buys drinking water in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. A leading rights group says Iraq's government is failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in the country's south. A report released on Monday by Human Rights Watch on chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute the province's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

Aft years of meager rains, Iraq had seen its wettest winter in a generation, restoring freshwater marches in southern Iraq and bringing welcome relief to the local population. The deluge of the winter months has slightly decreased salinity in Basra's drinking water, as the revived rivers flushed the salt away and filled the marshes with fresh water.

In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, a man tries to fix a leaking potable water pipe ner his home, Iraq. A leading human rights organization has accused Iraqi authorities of failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in Iraq's southern region. A report issued Monday by Human Rights Watch on the chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute Basra's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

"We don't just say it is not fit for human consumption, it is not even fit for animal consumption, nor for agriculture and cattle," said Hassan Ayoub, a student at Basra University.

In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, potable water pipes mix with sewage at a garbage dump in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. A leading rights group says Iraq's government is failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in the country's south. A report released on Monday by Human Rights Watch on chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute the province's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, potable water pipes mix with sewage at a garbage dump in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. A leading rights group says Iraq's government is failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in the country's south. A report released on Monday by Human Rights Watch on chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute the province's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

"The government urgently needs to act," Belkis Wille of Human Rights Watch told a press conference in Baghdad, where the organization released its report on Basra's water crisis. "The people of Iraq have a right to know what is in their environment and how to keep safe."

In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, wastewater flows in central Basra, Iraq. A leading human rights organization has accused Iraqi authorities of failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in Iraq's southern region. A report issued Monday by Human Rights Watch on the chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute Basra's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, wastewater flows in central Basra, Iraq. A leading human rights organization has accused Iraqi authorities of failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in Iraq's southern region. A report issued Monday by Human Rights Watch on the chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute Basra's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

The report, entitled "Basra is Thirsty: Iraq's Failure to Manage the Water Crisis," said a full year after Basra's violent protests , authorities continue to allow activities that pollute the province's water resources despite the health risks to residents. Promised government projects to improve water quality have failed to materialize due to mismanagement and corruption, it said, and warned of outbreaks of water-borne diseases if the problems are left unaddressed.

Basra's acute water problems have been going on for decades, leading to outbreaks of protests every summer. The protests turned into a full-blown crisis last year after thousands of people were hospitalized due to stomach ailments and skin rashes blamed on the water quality.

The contaminated water, along with other failing city services and soaring unemployment, also led to violent protests and rioting in Basra, Iraq's oil-exporting capital. During a week of demonstrations, protesters set fire to government buildings and offices of Iranian-backed militias that they blame for mismanagement and profiteering while residents struggle with poverty.

In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, wastewater flows in central Basra, Iraq. A leading human rights organization has accused Iraqi authorities of failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in Iraq's southern region. A report issued Monday by Human Rights Watch on the chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute Basra's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, wastewater flows in central Basra, Iraq. A leading human rights organization has accused Iraqi authorities of failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in Iraq's southern region. A report issued Monday by Human Rights Watch on the chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute Basra's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

Aft years of meager rains, Iraq had seen its wettest winter in a generation, restoring freshwater marches in southern Iraq and bringing welcome relief to the local population. The deluge of the winter months has slightly decreased salinity in Basra's drinking water, as the revived rivers flushed the salt away and filled the marshes with fresh water.

But residents told The Associated Press the government has done nothing to address the problems. Waste water flows into the river and potable water pipes mix with sewage at a garbage dump in Basra. Although they cite a slight improvement in the water flowing through their taps, residents still use bottled water for drinking and cooking.

Agriculture is the main source of income for rural communities in Basra province. However, irrigation with damaging saline water has reduced crop production substantially.

In this Sunday, July, 21, 2019, a man buys drinking water in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. A leading rights group says Iraq's government is failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in the country's south. A report released on Monday by Human Rights Watch on chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute the province's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

In this Sunday, July, 21, 2019, a man buys drinking water in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. A leading rights group says Iraq's government is failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in the country's south. A report released on Monday by Human Rights Watch on chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute the province's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

"We don't just say it is not fit for human consumption, it is not even fit for animal consumption, nor for agriculture and cattle," said Hassan Ayoub, a student at Basra University.

In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, a man tries to fix a leaking potable water pipe ner his home, Iraq. A leading human rights organization has accused Iraqi authorities of failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in Iraq's southern region. A report issued Monday by Human Rights Watch on the chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute Basra's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, a man tries to fix a leaking potable water pipe ner his home, Iraq. A leading human rights organization has accused Iraqi authorities of failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in Iraq's southern region. A report issued Monday by Human Rights Watch on the chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute Basra's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)
In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, potable water pipes mix with sewage at a garbage dump in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. A leading rights group says Iraq's government is failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in the country's south. A report released on Monday by Human Rights Watch on chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute the province's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)

In this Saturday, July, 20, 2019 photo, potable water pipes mix with sewage at a garbage dump in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. A leading rights group says Iraq's government is failing to properly address underlying causes for an ongoing water crisis in the country's south. A report released on Monday by Human Rights Watch on chronic water shortages and pollution in Iraq's Basra province says authorities continue to allow activities that pollute the province's water resources despite the health risks to residents. (AP PhotoNabil al-Jurani)