EASTERN GATE Al-Aqiser Church and Iraqi heritage, endangered by climate change

The structure, which dates back to the 5th century, is in a state of disrepair. Climatologists and authorities have begun a collaboration to assess the long-term “impact and consequences” on the historic sites. But many architectural treasures are in danger, as are the country’s crops and ecosystem, facing a “silent enemy” that threatens the future and is the central theme of the Future Summit taking place at the UN General Assembly.

Milan () – The alarm call from the Iraqi General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage regarding the historic church of Al-Aqiser is only the latest, but it could also go unheeded given the risk that the country – and its treasures – could succumb to climate change. According to experts, the structure is in fact subject to “deterioration” due to the effects of atmospheric phenomena and environmental disruption, although the organization has recently begun close collaboration with a group of climatologists to mitigate the harmful effects. The aim is precisely to assess the “impact and long-term consequences” of climate change on Iraq’s historic sites, a highly topical issue that will also be the focus of the work of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, scheduled from 22 to 30 September at the UN headquarters in New York. Among the most anticipated events is the Future Summit, held during the first two days of the assembly to reaffirm commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the United Nations Charter.

More than oil

A heritage of great economic and cultural value, which constitutes the true “black gold” of Iraq, as stated by the Chaldean Patriarch Card. Louis Raphael Sako. In fact, since his time as Archbishop of Kirkuk, the Cardinal used to denounce the dangers that a «universal good» that must be safeguarded like archaeology, which is worth it on its own “more than oil.” A task for all Iraqis, not just Christians, he also recalled in 2016 during the «International Conference on the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Conflict Zones»held in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates).

Specifically, the church of Al-Aqiser (‘mini-palace’ in Arabic) is an archaeological site located in the desert area of ​​Ayn al-Tamr, near Karbala, about 100 km southwest of Baghdad, and is described as the oldest Christian church in the East. Until recently it was used by the Chaldeans, although in recent times it has fallen into a state of neglect and its walls are subject to decay and erosion. It dates back to the 5th century AD and is five kilometers from the famous fortress of Al-Ukhaidir.

Historians believe the church was built by Nestorian rebels seeking refuge from the Lakhmid dynasty (268-633 AD), allied to the Sassanian Empire. The place of worship contains traces of Aramaic inscriptions on the walls and has a raised altar facing Jerusalem. The site covers an area of ​​about 4,000 square metres with tombs, towers, monasteries and treasuries. Another nearby church, recently discovered, was used for funeral ceremonies and dozens of tombs were also found aligned in the direction of the holy city, while the presence of tumuli around it suggests the existence of an ancient city. Although the roof has collapsed, its walls are still standing and the faithful continue to celebrate Christmas mass inside.

Adaptation strategies

Montasser Sabah Al-Hasnawi, head of the climate change team at the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, stressed the importance of protecting cultural heritage from the risks of rising temperatures and environmental disasters. During a personal visit to the Christian cultural and religious site, he once again stressed the need to promote and support specific policies to safeguard heritage. “We must develop,” the senior official told Shafaq News, “climate adaptation strategies to preserve both cultural practices and archaeological sites.”

According to the UN, Iraq is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, starting with the devastating effects of drought in a territory covered by more than 50% of deserts, which threaten human and animal life, but do not even spare archaeological and cultural sites. From the vestiges of ancient Mesopotamia to recent history, we are witnessing a progressive desiccation accelerated by the disappearance of trees that were once able to block the winds and which are now disappearing because they have been burned or destroyed by the bombings of the various wars fought in the area or cut down to make way for new cities. Scorching temperatures of more than 50 degrees in summer, dust storms and heavy winter rains have also dealt blows to heritage. Hence the fear for sites built with bricks thousands of years ago, which are now crumbling and turning to dust.

Archaeologist Zahd Muhammad blamed “climatic conditions, the fact that under Saddam Hussein the area was turned into a military polygon and the lack of regular maintenance.” The mayor of Ayn al-Tamr, Raed Fadhel, also raises the economic element, saying that maintenance is budget-driven and that there is a progressive lack of funds: “A huge amount of money is needed, but we only receive,” he complains, “meager funds” from the federal government. Finally, there is the issue of interest related to the cultural heritage itself: some 60 kilometres further east, the Shiite shrines of Kerbala attract millions of pilgrims every year, but these potential visitors do not stop at the numerous ancient churches, the Mesopotamian cities and the pyramidal “ziggurat” structures of Babylon, a UNESCO heritage site.

A silent enemy

Critical problems do not only affect one part of the country, but are a challenge The invasion is a threat to the nation as a whole. One example is the “silent enemy” that has been gaining ground in southern Iraq in recent years. The low water levels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which meet in the Basra plain, are unable to repel the wave of seawater, and saltwater, that advances with increasing force towards the north. A stealthy “invasion” that ends up destroying palm groves, citrus trees and other crops that have prospered for millennia thanks to the shade provided by the palm trees that protected them from the scorching sunlight. Not only the cultural and historical heritage is in danger, but also the crops themselves that have guaranteed life and prosperity for centuries.

Adnan Khdheir Al-Sinafi from Al-Bihar district (Basra) has worked in a palm grove all his life, as his ancestors did for generations. Today, like many others, he finds himself at a crossroads: stay and persist – after heavy economic losses – or leave in search of a livelihood elsewhere. He has tried both: “This land was a paradise. I planted citrus trees in the shade of the palm trees and we had more than 60 varieties of top-quality dates,” he recalls. “As the salinity increased, I saw my trees dying and the land slowly degrading. I lost,” he says, “about 30,000,” and what remains are “dead trunks and stumps.” Further north, in Thi-Qar Governorate, marshes are drying up due to low water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, caused by decreased rainfall, the construction of dams in Turkey and Iran on rivers and tributaries, and the lack of sustainable local water management. These marshes were once famous for their biodiversity, community livelihoods, and farming and fishing practices, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia.

The International Organization for Migration’s monitoring of climate emergencies in Iraq recorded one last critical factor: the displacement of more than 130,000 people between 2016 and September 2023 due to the negative effects of climate change. The scale is far greater than what any one organization can do alone, and while the government is pushing for a climate strategy, collaboration with the international community, civil society and individuals is also essential. Reducing the vulnerability of territories requires investment in smart infrastructure, equitable land and water management systems and policies, diversified livelihood opportunities and early warning systems. On the eve of the COP28, Local experts and environmentalists are calling for broader and more concerted efforts at national and regional levels, because this is not a local crisis but a global one that requires immediate action.

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