Economic recession hits Anbar, and rising unemployment and theft threaten its stability

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[size=52]Economic recession hits Anbar, and rising unemployment and theft threaten its stability[/size]

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2024-09-08
Anbar -
Ayoub Saad
Anbar Governorate has recently witnessed an economic decline, which appeared in the stagnation that affected the market movement, as unemployment rates worsened, and theft became a common phenomenon, amid warnings of greater repercussions, while officials and observers in the governorate attributed it to the decline in the governorate’s budget, the suspension of salaries for thousands of beneficiaries, and the suspension of strategic projects.[/size]
[size=45]The mayor of Ramadi, Ibrahim Al-Awsaj, said during an interview, “The reasons for the economic recession in the province are numerous and clear, including the suspension of 27,000 salaries, estimated at a total monthly value of about 32 billion dinars by the Martyrs Foundation.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Awsaj added, “Anbar Governorate does not have an absolute budget for regional development projects for the year 2024,” noting, “We used to spend about 500 billion dinars annually, all of which would be in the market, and would contribute to moving and activating it to a very large extent.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, "One of the reasons for the economic recession in Anbar is the suspension of strategic projects that previously generated huge amounts of money."[/size]
[size=45]Regarding the repercussions of the economic recession on the Anbar citizen, Al-Awsaj explains that “the recession has caused the emergence of crime and the emergence of social and security problems, due to the instability of the economic situation.”[/size]
[size=45]He explained that “Anbar Governorate recorded thefts after they had stopped in the past years due to the economic recession and the suspension of salaries for martyrs and wounded,” stressing that “there is arbitrariness in the use of laws towards Anbar Governorate, which led to the deterioration of its economic situation.”[/size]
[size=45]In the first quarter of this year, the Martyrs Foundation decided to stop the work of the subcommittee to compensate those affected by military operations, military errors, and “terrorist operations” in the governorate.[/size]
[size=45]It is noteworthy that the National Security Service announced last January that it had uncovered a corruption network that included fraud and embezzlement of funds allocated to ISIS victims in Anbar province, amounting to about one trillion Iraqi dinars ($760 million). At the time, more than 30 suspects were arrested, including senior employees in several government agencies, including pension funds and the Martyrs Foundation. The network included issuing fake IDs and credit card data, in addition to trading in confidential data.[/size]
[size=45]For her part, social affairs specialist Yaqeen Salah said in an interview with “Al-Alam Al-Jadeed” that “the economic recession in Anbar could have serious effects on the family and society in general.”[/size]
[size=45]“The recession leads to job losses and lower wages, which negatively impacts household income and increases poverty rates,” Salah explains, adding that “with lower incomes, households are unable to meet their basic needs such as food and healthcare, which impacts individuals’ standard of living.”[/size]
[size=45]She stressed that “economic pressures lead to increased tension and conflicts within the family, and increase the rates of divorce or conflicts,” indicating that “the economic recession greatly affects all aspects of family life in Anbar, and requires concerted efforts to provide support and assistance to mitigate this damage.”[/size]
[size=45]According to the latest survey of the Ministry of Planning, the population aged 15 years and above constitutes about 64 percent of the total population, with males accounting for about 50 percent and females approximately 50 percent. The youth group aged 15-24 years constituted 21 percent, and those aged 25 years and above constituted 43 percent of the total population, while the unemployment rate reached 16.5 percent.[/size]
[size=45]The industrial sector in Iraq in general, which is supposed to contribute to employing many segments of society, has been facing a major deterioration since 2003 until now, in light of the shutdown of most factories and the shift towards imports. The Federation of Iraqi Industries estimated years ago the percentage of stalled projects at 40 thousand projects, and successive government programs always include the subject of stimulating the economy and local industry, but without fulfilling any promise. Rather, trade exchange with countries in the region continues while neglecting local industry.[/size]
[size=45]In addition, civil activist Omar Al-Hashemi explained, during an interview with “Al-Alam Al-Jadeed”, that “the decline in economic activity leads to a decrease in job opportunities, which increases the unemployment rate and affects individuals’ income.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Hashemi added, “The economic recession leads to an increase in poverty rates, as individuals face difficulties in obtaining the financial resources necessary for daily life.”[/size]
[size=45]He stressed that “the phenomenon of stagnation that has spread throughout the governorate will affect the local government’s ability to provide basic public services such as education, health, and infrastructure.”[/size]
[size=45]In addition to the government sector, private sector projects have witnessed a halt, and even a major collapse, as a result of the lack of production infrastructure, such as electricity or necessary protection, especially in light of the security events that the country is experiencing on an ongoing basis, which has had a negative impact on the Iraqi street, which has become a consumer of imported goods.[/size]
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