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VOA新闻杂志2022--共享底格里斯河和幼发拉底河被证明是困难的

时间:2022-11-29 01:24:20

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(单词翻译)

Sharing the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Proves Difficult

The countries of Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and Iran share parts of the Tigris and Euphrates river system. The famous rivers are among the world's most vulnerable1 waterways.

Water flow has fallen by 40 percent in the past 40 years as the four countries along their lengths seek to use the water for drinking, farming and industry.

Turkey and Iraq use most of the water. They agree that both countries must cooperate to protect the rivers. Sixty million people depend on their water.

But political problems and historical issues prevent an agreement.

Recently, the Associated Press (AP) spoke2 with people in Turkey and Iraq, including top officials and local farmers. The AP found that Iraq fears a possible 20 percent drop in food production in the coming years while Turkey struggles to balance Iraq's and its own needs.

"I don't see a solution," said former Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi.

He said, "Would Turkey sacrifice its own interests? Especially if that means that by giving more (water) to us, their farmers and people will suffer?"

New dams built in Turkey

Turkey has built 19 dams on the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers and plans a total of 22. They are part of its Southeastern Anatolia Project, known as GAP. The project aims to develop the southeast, increase agriculture, and produce electricity.

At first, Turkey planned to provide water for 1.8 million hectares of land. But that amount was reduced to 1.05 million. Half the reduced goal has been met.

Farmers who receive water from GAP must use modern methods that Turkish officials say use two-thirds less water.

But for Iraqis, every drop of water used for farming or other purposes in Turkey means less for Iraq.

"A single truth"

Iraq depends almost entirely3 for water on the two rivers that come from outside its borders.

In 2014, Iraq's Water Ministry4 prepared a report that detailed5 what it called "single truth." AP reporters have seen the report, which has not been made public. It said in two years, Iraq's water supply would no longer meet demand. It warned that by 2035, the lack of water would cause a 20 percent reduction in food production.

The predictions can already be seen in 2022. Lakes have dried up, crops have failed, and thousands of Iraqis are moving away.

Talks between Turkey and Iraq over many years have still not resulted in a long-term agreement.

Turkey sees itself as the owner of the beginning of the river system. It considers needs and decides how much to let flow downstream. But Iraq considers ownership shared and wants a more permanent agreement with defined6 limits.

Veysel Eroglu represents Turkey on water issues with Iraq. He told the AP that Turkey cannot accept releasing a fixed7 amount of water because river flows are unpredictable.

Eroglu said Turkey could agree to setting a ratio release – but only if Syria and Iraq provide detailed information on their water usage8.

Turkey also finds it difficult to progress in the water talks because water officials from Iraq often change. Additionally, Turkey says Iraq must use water effectively.

One Iraqi ambassador9 said it was "a mistake" that his side once told the Turks that Iraqis knew 70 percent of their water was wasted on ancient farming methods. This led Turkey to increase its demands for Iraq to reform.

A numbers game

Iraq received an average flow of 625 cubic meters of water per second from the Tigris 10 years ago. Today, Iraqi water officials say the country gets only 36 percent of that because of less rainfall and a big dam in Turkey.

Ilisu Dam produces electricity, so water must be released downstream.

But how much and when depend on Turkish officials. They must keep the reservoir water level at 500 meters above sea level to produce electricity. But they face less predictable water flow into the reservoir.

Turkish officials say that with the dam, they can control the river flow to help Iraq by storing more water during floods and releasing water during dry periods.

But Iraqi officials say they depend on one-time agreements with Turkey which make planning difficult.

"They can cut water, they can release water. We urgently need a water agreement just to satisfy Iraq's minimum requirements," said Hatem Hamid. He is head of the National Centre for Water Resources Management.

Difficult decisions

Once Tigris River water reaches the Mosul Dam in Iraq, Hamid decides how much and where it goes in Iraq.

With shortages10 expected in 2022, Hamid had to make big cuts. Water amounts for agriculture were cut in half. Those cuts reduced the amount of water entering the marshlands of southern Iraq.

The result was an environmental emergency: Not enough water was entering the marshes12 to wash away salt from the ocean. Hamid tried to fix the problem, but the damage was done.

"Life has ended"

In the Chibayish marshes, dead animals float near the sides of the river, poisoned by the salty water.

Over the past two years, what was once green and full of life in the marshes has died and turned yellow. Salt from the sea has built up from two years without enough fresh water from the river.

Obeid Hafez, a farmer, once planted more than 1,000 hectares of wheat. Today, his land in southern Iraq is without life and his sons have gone looking for work in the cities.

"Life has ended here," he said.

Words in This Story

vulnerable – adj. open to attack, harm, or damage

ratio – n. the relationship that exists between the size, number, or amount of two things and that is often represented by two numbers

reservoir – n. a usually artificial lake that is used to store a large supply of water for use in people's homes or in businesses

minimum – adj. least or lowest possible in amount or degree

marsh11 – n. an area of soft, wet land that has many grasses and other plants


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 vulnerable 4hAwN     
adj.易受伤的,脆弱的,易受攻击的
参考例句:
  • He volunteered to protect her as she looked so vulnerable.她看上去很脆弱,他就主动去保护她。
  • The company is in an economically vulnerable position.该公司目前经济状况不稳定。
2 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
3 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
4 ministry kD5x2     
n.(政府的)部;牧师
参考例句:
  • They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
  • We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。
5 detailed xuNzms     
adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的
参考例句:
  • He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
  • A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
6 defined GuQzxW     
adj 定义的; 清晰的
参考例句:
  • These categories are not well defined. 这些类别划分得不太明确。
  • The powers of a judge are defined by law. 法官的权限是由法律规定的。
7 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
8 usage 2jawU     
n.惯用法,使用,用法
参考例句:
  • I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
  • The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。
9 ambassador uNZzg     
n.大使,特使,(派驻国际组织的)代表
参考例句:
  • He took up office as an ambassador for ten years continuously.他连任十年大使。
  • The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。
10 shortages f09a7486187a5c082c18856f7aa1adb5     
n.不足( shortage的名词复数 );缺少;缺少量;不足额
参考例句:
  • Food shortages often occur in time of war. 在战争期间常常发生粮食短缺的情形。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • At the same time, worldwide food and fuel shortages eased. 同时,世界性粮食和石油短缺的现象终止了。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
11 marsh Y7Rzo     
n.沼泽,湿地
参考例句:
  • There are a lot of frogs in the marsh.沼泽里有许多青蛙。
  • I made my way slowly out of the marsh.我缓慢地走出这片沼泽地。
12 marshes 9fb6b97bc2685c7033fce33dc84acded     
n.沼泽,湿地( marsh的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Cows were grazing on the marshes. 牛群在湿地上吃草。
  • We had to cross the marshes. 我们不得不穿过那片沼泽地。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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