'A Blessing': Rains Refill Iraq's Drought-hit Reservoirs

The resevoir of the Darbandikhan dam in northeastern Iraq is almost full, with heavy rains breaking four consecutive years of drought (Credit: AFP)

The reservoir behind the massive Darbandikhan dam, tucked between the rolling mountains of northeastern Iraq, is almost full again after four successive years of drought and severe water shortages.

Iraqi officials say recent rainfall has refilled some of the water-scarce country's main reservoirs, taking levels to a record since 2019.