Farmland in Kirkuk destroyed by flash floods

KIRKUK, Iraq - Farmlands in Kirkuk's Pirde (Altun Kupri) have been damaged as floodwater flowed downstream from Erbil to the district on Friday. This has caused financial loss to dozens of Kurdish farmers. 

Floods hit several southeastern neighbourhoods and sub-districts in Erbil province early Friday, killing 12 people, including foreigners.

One of the most affected areas was Qushtapa subdistrict. Pride, located in the province of Kirkuk, is about 30 kilometres away from the area. The flood water headed to the farmlands of the district, destroying many of them. 

On Sunday, farmers gathered on their devastated farms, demanding compensation from the government which they claim is responsible for the destruction because of its failure to clear runoff paths. 

“In the past, two excavators were used to clean the streams, each digging from one side. But now the canes have filled the channel, preventing the water from flowing. Whenever the flooding comes, it engulfs the deserts and the fields of farmers,” Kurdish farmer Bakhawan Haji Jawhar told Rudaw on Sunday.  

Sherwan Shwan, another farmer, estimates that he lost more than $8,000 due to the flood. 

“I lost about 12 million dinars ($8,225). Most of my irrigation pipes have been swept away by the flood. I have only collected these pipes in the last two days,” he said. 

Kirkuk's agriculture department has begun estimating the damage.

Mohammed Ahmed, director of Altun Kupri agriculture department, told Rudaw that a lot of crop fields, irrigation systems, and water pumps were destroyed by the flooding. “Within minutes, we contacted the director of the Kirkuk agriculture department. He told us to estimate the losses.”

Translation and video editing by Sarkawt Mohammed