Nasiriyah – 2026
In the city of Nasiriyah, where the Euphrates and Al-Gharraf rivers form two vital lifelines, the problem of river pollution is escalating as one of the most serious environmental challenges threatening public health and the local environment. In response to this reality, the Tigris Protectors Association, in cooperation with the APK Foundation, launched the “Environmental Duties” initiative during the period from November 1 to December 31, 2025, with the aim of delivering direct awareness messages to the local community to reduce harmful behaviors, especially the dumping of heavy waste into river channels.
The initiative was based on a firm conviction that protecting rivers cannot be achieved through laws alone, but begins with changing social behavior and strengthening citizens’ sense of responsibility toward natural resources, as unconscious human behavior is one of the main sources of water pollution. This makes community awareness a fundamental priority in any effective environmental effort.
Within this framework, the initiative worked on preparing a special policy paper on river protection in the city of Nasiriyah, prepared by the researcher specialized in environmental and water issues, Salman Khairallah, and discussed and approved in coordination with the APK Foundation. The paper was discussed with the Dhi Qar Environment Directorate in a meeting held on November 15, 2025, where it received praise from the department’s administration and contributed to strengthening the understanding of environmental priorities and required interventions. This was later reflected in the implementation of field measures to limit some violations against rivers within the city.
In this context, a specialized committee was formed to prepare awareness messages. Twenty-five environmental messages were produced, from which twelve were selected after discussions with volunteers. This process culminated in the signing of a partnership agreement with Al-Waad Radio, following which a broadcasting schedule for the messages was prepared and continued until February 2026. It was later extended to emphasize the importance of supporting environmental issues.
In terms of capacity building, a workshop was organized on mechanisms for building and managing environmental advocacy campaigns, targeting 13 young journalists and bloggers interested in environmental and water issues. This resulted in the launch of three youth media campaigns dedicated to water protection in the city of Nasiriyah.
The “Environmental Duties” initiative achieved significant results, including reaching more than 5,000 citizens through awareness messages, training 13 activists and bloggers on environmental advocacy tools, establishing a sustainable media partnership with Al-Waad Radio, and producing awareness content suitable for future use.
The initiative affirms that joint media and volunteer work is capable of making a real difference and represents an important step toward protecting rivers and ensuring a safer environmental future for the city of Nasiriyah.
