Arabic

Diwaniyah the southern Iraqi city that is located in the downstream of Euphrates river, is facing various environmental challenges, such as drought, pollution, desertification, climate change impact, in addition to Covid-19 issue. During 2021, in cooperation with authorities, local community and other civil society bodies, Humat Dijlah in Diwaniyah worked harder to combat these challenges, by organizing diverse sets of activities.

As we entered the second year of Covid-19 pandemic, the city is still suffering from the spread of the pandemic. Together with the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Humat Dijlah participated in the campaign to raise people’s awareness of the impotence of the vaccination. The activities of this campaign included; field visits, educational video productions, brochures distribution and scientific seminars to educate on how to prevent the spread of the pandemic by committing to the protection procedures. The activities took place in different locations: Universities, Schools, Kinder garden, Markets and other public places, and witnessed a good interaction from audiences.

Environmental Monitoring Network (EMN) had a core role in improving the environmental reality by providing data and statistics that helped in proposing the proper solutions. In order to strengthen the coordination with authorities , many meetings with decision makers and relevant governmental departments such as environment and water resources directorate in Diwaniyah were held, to discuss with them the environmental reality, the existing problems inside the city and show them the data that the team has collected regarding the pollutions on every base  inside the city, and to discuss the best methods to solve these challenges, and coordinate with them future activities regarding raising awareness for tourists and farmers.

In cooperation with other Human Rights Organizations and the Iraqi journalists and media professionals group, Humat Dijlah participated in two seminars that were held in Diwaniyah radio station which was broadcasted live in 7^th of July and 1^st of September. The topics of the seminars included: Covid-19 prevention, the role of civil society in environmental protection, and its contribution to safety and stability.

Within United Nation Environmental Program (UNEP), and in coordination with directorate of environment and X Group in Diwaniyah, a training session was held under the title (Climate change and youth’s role in facing the dangers of climate change). And during the training the goals of sustainable development, climate change and its elements, the importance of community initiatives and campaigns were discussed, in addition to explaining the impact of Global Warming on health, economy and nature.

To address the problems that Diwaniyah faces regarding water pollution, and in coordination with the directorate of environment of the city, Humat Dijlah held a seminar under the title (The right to have clean water). After introduction of Humat Dijlah and their activities, the seminar began to talk about the problems that the city faces, an educational video was shown to the attendees that captured the water pollutions in the city, while at the end of the seminar a detailed discussion to suggest proposals in order to resolve the problems that the city has.

Diwaniyah like every other city in Iraq, faces environmental and pandemic issues, but instead of standing still, the active team of Humat Dijlah in it, dedicates their time and power to invest in the city, and work for a better future for it by organizing activities, raising awareness campaigns, seminars and meeting with decision makers of their city.