KRG Announces New Measures to Combat Drought and Prevent Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak
Peregraf
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has announced a series of decisions aimed at addressing two urgent public health and environmental challenges: drought and the potential spread of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF). The measures were issued following a high-level meeting of the Operations Chamber for Crisis and Disaster Management, attended by the Ministers of Interior, Health, and Agriculture.
According to the official statement, the KRG will launch a widespread public awareness campaign through media outlets, social platforms, mosques, and cultural centers to educate the public on preventing Hemorrhagic Fever, preserving public health, and conserving water.
Authorities have also ordered strict monitoring of animal sources and imported products to ensure they originate from safe zones with no recent outbreaks of typhoid fever. Additionally, operations rooms dedicated to Hemorrhagic Fever and drought will be established in both provincial and autonomous administration areas.
Security forces and specialized committees will monitor animal markets and slaughterhouses, reinforcing regulations that animals be slaughtered only in officially approved facilities.
To address the worsening drought, the KRG will boost efforts to enhance water infrastructure and prioritize local solutions for water management and irrigation. An advance action plan will be developed to mitigate the agricultural impact of drought and provide necessary damage assessments and response strategies.
Governors and local committees have been instructed to prevent the use of sewage water for irrigation of vegetables and crops. Furthermore, the KRG emphasized the need to protect underground water resources by restricting well drilling, allowing it only in exceptional cases and through official approval.
These measures reflect the government's multi-pronged strategy to safeguard public health and food security amid increasing climate and health challenges.