The High Commission for Human Rights in Iraq has warned on Friday that at least 3,000 Iraqi families have been forced to abandon homes due to drought.

Diyala Governorate, which extends to the northeast of Baghdad as far as the Iranian border, was the most affected by the drought waves. This led to a more than 90 per cent decline in the level of the Diyala River.

Consequently Iraqi Agriculture Ministry completely excluded it from its plans resulting in many of its projects being halted and even drinking water plants being stopped from working.

"Iraq is considered the most affected among the five countries which are most harmed by the climate change and 39th among the countries suffering from insufficient water," Fadel Al-Ghazzawi, member of the High Commission for Human Rights in Iraq, shared in a statement.

He added: "The record decline in rainfall last year contributed to the water crisis and desertification of the agricultural lands, contraction of grass cover, dryness of lakes and ponds, a hike in industrial pollution and soil salinity."

Al-Ghazzawi noted that all of these factors form "imminent dangers on the environment and life of people," urging the government to take measures to treat these problems.