Housing shortage threatens the stability of millions of Iraqis!

The housing crisis in Iraq is constantly escalating, as many Iraqi cities suffer from a severe shortage of housing units and weak infrastructure, which has exacerbated the living conditions of citizens.

According to government reports and field studies, it is estimated that Iraq needs more than three million housing units to meet the growing demand, and this crisis is exacerbated by rapid population growth and slow implementation of housing projects.

In addition, the country suffers from a lack of funding and investment in the construction sector, as well as security and political challenges that prevent the acceleration of the implementation of appropriate solutions.

Economic expert Ali Al-Karbouli says that "the housing crisis in Iraq is one of the most prominent economic challenges facing the country, and there are several basic reasons that contribute to the exacerbation of this crisis," noting that "Iraq is witnessing a significant population increase, especially in urban areas. This growth requires the continuous provision of new housing units, which is difficult to achieve due to economic challenges and limited infrastructure."

He adds that "investments in the construction and housing sector have declined due to the unstable security and political situation. Many companies and investors are reluctant to enter the real estate market due to the risks."

He added, "Administrative complications and the spread of corruption lead to delays in the implementation of housing projects, and obtaining building permits or implementing real estate projects can take a long time, due to these problems."

The economic expert explains that "the lack of sufficient funding for individuals or real estate developers to build affordable housing units, many citizens face difficulty in obtaining appropriate housing loans," stressing that "the weakness of the infrastructure of water, electricity and roads leads to the concentration of the population in certain areas, which raises prices in those areas, and creates a shortage in supply compared to demand.

" Al-Karbouli continues, "The ongoing wars and sectarian conflicts have resulted in the destruction of many residential areas, and the displacement of residents from the affected areas has increased the pressure on safe areas," explaining that "these factors combine to form a housing crisis that requires comprehensive solutions starting with economic and administrative reforms, and even strengthening the infrastructure and investments."

For his part, the Vice President of the Parliamentary Investment Committee, Suzan Mansour, revealed that about 106 MP signatures have been collected to question the head of the National Authority.

Mansour said, "There are many questions that will be asked to interrogate the head of the National Investment Commission, Haider Makiya." She added, "The reasons for the high prices of investment housing units are one of the questions raised for interrogation," noting that "the housing units are high even though the state provides land and infrastructure for free to the investor and exempts him from taxes."

Mansour continued, "The interrogation will be held in parliament in the coming period." Iraq needs to build between 3 and 3.5 million housing units to alleviate the chronic housing crisis.

The government has begun building 52 residential cities in the central and southern governorates, in addition to new housing projects and providing various loans to build, renovate and purchase housing units, which are steps described as radical to confront the crisis.

Source: Al-Mada