This year, for the first time in its long history, Iraq’s Lake Sawa dried up.“This lake was known as the pearl of the south,” said 35-year-old al-Aqouli, who lives in Samawa, near the lake.“Now it is our tragedy.”A combination of bad ownership by local investors, government neglect and climate change has turned Lake Sawa into a salty, flat area.The loss of Lake Sawa is only the latest addition to Iraq’s water shortage.Experts say it is caused by climate change.Iraq has had drought and record low rainfall for years.The importance of water is driving up competition among businessmen and farmers.The poorest Iraqis are affected the most by the disaster.The narrow stretch of farmland along the Euphrates River is surrounded by desert.The area was ignored by the government starting in the 1980s.Locals call the area surrounding Lake Sawa “atshan” ― meaning “thirsty” in Arabic.
