Iraq is hostage to expectations and guesses. The absence of a population census increases the extent

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[size=52]Iraq is hostage to expectations and guesses. The absence of a population census increases the extent of corruption[/size]

[size=45]Blessed be Abdul Majeed[/size]
[size=45]For more than a quarter of a century, Iraq has remained captive to “speculative” numbers and statistics, and although there were attempts by previous governments to achieve a population census, they failed as a result of political and ethnic complications and interference.[/size]
[size=45]The Ministry of Planning says it intends to complete the census during the next year, while economists express doubts about the government's seriousness in completing it.[/size]
[size=45]“Failed” attempts[/size]
[size=45]The spokesman for the Ministry of Planning, Abdul Zahra Al-Hindawi, points out that “Iraq has not conducted a population census since 1979, which was not comprehensive because it did not include the Kurdistan region.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Hindawi explained during his talk to (Al-Mada) that “the absence of a census all these years has caused a large gap, because there is a need for data and statistics that accurately depict and reflect reality.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Hindawi reports that “previous attempts to conduct the census faced a number of challenges. In 2010, the census procedures reached their final stages, and were postponed due to political disputes over some disputed areas that were not resolved,” he says.[/size]
[size=45]He added, “The second attempt was in 2020, but the population census was postponed due to the general situation of the country, which was not stable at the time.”[/size]
[size=45]He continues, “The Council of Ministers issued a decision that the census will take place during the month of November of next year,” stressing that “the census is considered a priority for the government program.”[/size]
[size=45]Requirements and procedures[/size]
[size=45]Regarding preparations for the upcoming census, Al-Hindawi explains that “a plan has been drawn up with specific timings to complete the census during the month of November 2024, and because it is considered a huge and large project, it requires many procedures and preparations.”[/size]
[size=45]Regarding these requirements, he explains that “there is a need to provide tablets with a number of no less than 120,000 devices, since the census will be electronic,” pointing out that the process of contracting with international companies to provide and equip the devices requires a time ranging between 5-6 months.[/size]
[size=45]He continues his talk about the rest of the requirements: “We need to conduct a pilot census during the next month of May, in addition to training approximately 130,000 male and female enumerators on how to use tablets, fill out the form, and ask questions,” adding that “the most important procedure is the counting and numbering operations, which “It takes at least two months.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Hindawi points out that there is an urgent need “to establish a national center that processes data with the latest technologies, and to provide satellite images to administrative units at the governorate, district, district, and village levels.” In addition to providing telephone and Internet coverage for all regions of Iraq, to ​​enable the transfer of data directly and with high accuracy.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Hindawi points out that “the 2022 budget allocated an amount of 100 billion dinars to implement the population census,” expressing his hope that additional funds will be provided in next year’s budget to complete the rest of the procedures.[/size]
[size=45]Regarding the importance of completing the population census, Al-Hindawi explains that it “contributes to providing a comprehensive database on Iraq that helps solve the problems of distributing wealth between governorates based on population bases, and provides accurate data for development plans and researchers, in addition to addressing the doubts of some governorates regarding the accuracy of their population density statistics, which It contributes to building a reliable and sustainable database.”[/size]
[size=45]Political purposes[/size]
[size=45]Economic affairs researcher, Ahmed Eid, says that “any country seeking to develop its economic, social, and political reality will place the population census among its priorities,” noting that “successive Iraqi governments, since 2003, have ignored interest in conducting the population census.”[/size]
[size=45]Eid attributes to Al-Mada the reasons for governments’ reluctance to conduct a census to “the presence of political and sectarian motives,” describing government statements that talk about the importance of conducting a census as “media consumption used for political purposes.”[/size]
[size=45]Absence of numbers[/size]
[size=45]Eid explains, “Over the past 26 years, Iraqi governments have relied on old and not up-to-date databases, which created a state of confusion due to the lack of correct and realistic data,” adding that “the lack of an official database will make the country hostage to the expectations and guesses that are based on On a sectarian and partisan basis.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, “The absence of real numbers increases the levels and extent of corruption in all state institutions, and the lack of data based on a reliable census puts the country in the circle of regulatory, economic, and social danger.”[/size]
[size=45]He alludes to “the lack of signs of conducting a census on a practical level,” saying: “These are just statements through which those who make them know the extent of their loss after the census is conducted.”[/size]
[size=45]He continues, “Statistical indicators in Iraq usually fall into the realm of guesswork, which has resulted in the failure of most national development plans as they are based on unreliable estimated data,” warning against refraining from conducting a population census.[/size]
[size=45]Eid concludes his speech by saying that the census is “an important national necessity, and must be conducted every 8 years,” pointing out that “managing the census with professionalism, practicality, and high integrity will not cost the state a large financial cost.”[/size]
[size=45]The needs of Iraqis[/size]
[size=45]For his part, the economic expert, Jalil Al-Lami, said in an interview with (Al-Mada), that “the government is counting on the importance of conducting the census in implementing policies and achieving the objectives of its program, and addressing the problems that it seeks to solve related to health, education, housing, unemployment and poverty,” calling on it to “make the utmost effort.” Efforts to complete it on time, and issuing directives to prepare all the required human, technical, financial and logistical capabilities and requirements.”[/size]
[size=45]The federal government has allocated an amount of 120 billion dinars to implement the population census, with the aim of achieving real solutions to control poverty rates, and according to a real database, the income rates and the level of services that the poor receive will be calculated, while field surveys will be carried out to determine the places of their concentration, which paves the way for determining The poverty line in the country, and it also contributes to supporting city budgets according to their needs, launching housing projects and reducing unemployment, according to what Al-Lami said via (Al-Mada).[/size]
[size=45]He stresses that “Iraq needs to conduct an honest population census that is not interfered with by partisan wills and differences between political entities and between the authorities in Baghdad and Erbil.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Lami believes that there is “a political necessity to conduct the census, which is an important step based on the desire to identify the needs of the people and address the challenges facing them, to determine an effective plan to support all the demands of the Iraqis.”[/size]
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