Home
[rtl][size=36]Experts: Lack of justice in wealth distribution exacerbates poverty in Iraq[/rtl][/size]
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Baghdad / Tabarak Al-Majid
[rtl]
In light of the high rates of poverty and unemployment in Iraq, the government seeks to enhance social spending as a priority to alleviate economic challenges and support poor families. Despite the efforts made, economic experts indicate that the absence of clear economic policies and the unfair distribution of wealth constitute an obstacle to improving living conditions, with calls to strengthen production sectors such as industry and agriculture to achieve economic sustainability and reduce reliance on temporary support.
Within the framework of efforts to reduce poverty in Iraq and enhance social stability, the economic advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, revealed that "the new government program gives top priority to the issue of social spending," while stressing that "the focus on social spending has tangible positive repercussions on the Iraqi general budget, as social aspects have become among the government's priorities, in line with the goals of eliminating poverty and alleviating the effects of unemployment."
Salih explained to (Al-Mada) that "the problem of poverty in Iraq is old, and is largely linked to high unemployment rates, which have reached between 16 and 17% in recent years, affected by successive conflicts and economic crises, which contributed to increasing poverty among segments of the population." Saleh added that the challenges are increasing as a result of the phenomenon of internal desertification, which is manifested in the displacement of large numbers from rural areas to cities, which has led to the spread of random gatherings in urban areas, as Iraqi cities now include more than three thousand random gatherings inhabited by hundreds of thousands of citizens who need government support to improve their living conditions.
The advisor stated that "the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is making great efforts to monitor poor and needy families, as it works to limit these categories and provide them with the necessary support." Saleh explained that one million Iraqi families are currently covered by social welfare programs, while evaluations are being conducted for an additional million families seeking to benefit from these programs.
He pointed out that "the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is today one of the main bodies concerned with the poverty file, as social welfare allocations have increased in the general budget to support these categories. As part of the government's interest in combating poverty, about 35% of salaries and wages expenditures have been allocated to social welfare. This support also includes providing a basic food basket for poor families, the size of which has increased during the current year to meet the rising cost of living."
Saleh stressed that efforts to combat poverty are not limited to financial support only, but also include multiple programs in the fields of education and vocational training. “The Iraqi government is openly and publicly addressing the issue of poverty, with the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Welfare Programs playing a pivotal role in this,” he said. “Government efforts are seeking to expand the base of beneficiaries by including more poor families in social safety nets,” he added.
Saleh pointed out that “the size of social support represents about 13% of Iraq’s GDP, a large figure that reflects the government’s interest in supporting poverty alleviation projects and supporting vulnerable families,” adding, “Efforts are ongoing and ongoing to improve the standard of living of citizens across Iraq,” stressing that the government has no choice but to increase social spending as part of its strategic vision to address economic and social challenges.
The Ministry of Planning, through the General Authority for Statistics and Geographic Information, has started implementing the economic survey of the family since last year 2023. The survey ended recently, and we are now in the process of extracting and analyzing the results to determine the exact poverty rate in the country and which governorates are higher and which are lower.
The ministry is working on preparing the national strategy to combat poverty for the next five years. In July of last year, the Ministry of Planning revealed that it had taken a series of measures to reduce poverty and unemployment rates in Iraq.
The spokesman for the Ministry of Planning, Abdul Zahra Al-Hindawi, stated that the ministry does not yet have new indicators on poverty rates at the national level or in the governorates, as the results of the new economic and social survey are still being analyzed after its recent completion. Al-Hindawi explained that “the latest available data indicate that the general poverty rate in the country reached 20.5%, with a large disparity between the governorates.”
Al-Hindawi explained in an interview with (Al-Mada) that “Muthanna Governorate recorded the highest poverty rate at 52%, followed by other southern governorates such as Maysan and Diwaniyah, where poverty rates range between 45 and 48%.” He added that the ministry expects the results of the new economic survey to appear in the coming weeks, which will provide updated information on the level of poverty in all governorates and contribute to directing social and development policies more accurately.
Lack of economic policies
Economic expert Mustafa Akram confirmed to Al-Mada that “the problem of poverty in Iraq has worsened due to the absence of clear and effective economic policies that aim to serve society,” noting that the poverty rate has risen to 40%, which means that more than 16 million Iraqis live below the poverty line in a country rich in economic resources.
Akram explained that “the unfair distribution of national wealth and the lack of effective operational plans are the main reasons for the spread of poverty in this way,” stressing that unemployment, which reaches about 8 million unemployed, plays a fundamental role in exacerbating the crisis, as it leads to an increase in the number of individuals unable to secure a living, which negatively affects many families, including children, widows and people with special needs, who represent between 10 and 20% of the poor.
Regarding the role of social welfare, Akram pointed out that “the safety nets cover about 4 to 5 million beneficiaries in various categories, including widows and people with disabilities, in addition to grants allocated to the unemployed,” and stated that the annual spending on social welfare programs amounts to about 27 trillion Iraqi dinars. However, he noted that this spending, despite its enormity, does not achieve a noticeable improvement in living standards, due to the lack of focus on creating sustainable job opportunities.
Akram believes that the solution lies in activating the work of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs by strengthening vital sectors such as industry, agriculture and tourism, noting that the industrial sector suffers from the absence of loans and protection for local products, while the agricultural sector faces major challenges such as water scarcity and the weakness of the comprehensive agricultural plan. As for the tourism sector, despite Iraq’s rich potential, it is almost paralyzed, and the transportation sector needs a comprehensive update of the infrastructure.
Akram stressed that “corruption is a major obstacle to any progress in these sectors,” stressing that the solution requires directing resources towards the production and employment sectors, which will automatically lead to reducing poverty rates.”
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
[/rtl]
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Baghdad / Tabarak Al-Majid
[rtl]
In light of the high rates of poverty and unemployment in Iraq, the government seeks to enhance social spending as a priority to alleviate economic challenges and support poor families. Despite the efforts made, economic experts indicate that the absence of clear economic policies and the unfair distribution of wealth constitute an obstacle to improving living conditions, with calls to strengthen production sectors such as industry and agriculture to achieve economic sustainability and reduce reliance on temporary support.
Within the framework of efforts to reduce poverty in Iraq and enhance social stability, the economic advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, revealed that "the new government program gives top priority to the issue of social spending," while stressing that "the focus on social spending has tangible positive repercussions on the Iraqi general budget, as social aspects have become among the government's priorities, in line with the goals of eliminating poverty and alleviating the effects of unemployment."
Salih explained to (Al-Mada) that "the problem of poverty in Iraq is old, and is largely linked to high unemployment rates, which have reached between 16 and 17% in recent years, affected by successive conflicts and economic crises, which contributed to increasing poverty among segments of the population." Saleh added that the challenges are increasing as a result of the phenomenon of internal desertification, which is manifested in the displacement of large numbers from rural areas to cities, which has led to the spread of random gatherings in urban areas, as Iraqi cities now include more than three thousand random gatherings inhabited by hundreds of thousands of citizens who need government support to improve their living conditions.
The advisor stated that "the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is making great efforts to monitor poor and needy families, as it works to limit these categories and provide them with the necessary support." Saleh explained that one million Iraqi families are currently covered by social welfare programs, while evaluations are being conducted for an additional million families seeking to benefit from these programs.
He pointed out that "the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is today one of the main bodies concerned with the poverty file, as social welfare allocations have increased in the general budget to support these categories. As part of the government's interest in combating poverty, about 35% of salaries and wages expenditures have been allocated to social welfare. This support also includes providing a basic food basket for poor families, the size of which has increased during the current year to meet the rising cost of living."
Saleh stressed that efforts to combat poverty are not limited to financial support only, but also include multiple programs in the fields of education and vocational training. “The Iraqi government is openly and publicly addressing the issue of poverty, with the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Welfare Programs playing a pivotal role in this,” he said. “Government efforts are seeking to expand the base of beneficiaries by including more poor families in social safety nets,” he added.
Saleh pointed out that “the size of social support represents about 13% of Iraq’s GDP, a large figure that reflects the government’s interest in supporting poverty alleviation projects and supporting vulnerable families,” adding, “Efforts are ongoing and ongoing to improve the standard of living of citizens across Iraq,” stressing that the government has no choice but to increase social spending as part of its strategic vision to address economic and social challenges.
The Ministry of Planning, through the General Authority for Statistics and Geographic Information, has started implementing the economic survey of the family since last year 2023. The survey ended recently, and we are now in the process of extracting and analyzing the results to determine the exact poverty rate in the country and which governorates are higher and which are lower.
The ministry is working on preparing the national strategy to combat poverty for the next five years. In July of last year, the Ministry of Planning revealed that it had taken a series of measures to reduce poverty and unemployment rates in Iraq.
The spokesman for the Ministry of Planning, Abdul Zahra Al-Hindawi, stated that the ministry does not yet have new indicators on poverty rates at the national level or in the governorates, as the results of the new economic and social survey are still being analyzed after its recent completion. Al-Hindawi explained that “the latest available data indicate that the general poverty rate in the country reached 20.5%, with a large disparity between the governorates.”
Al-Hindawi explained in an interview with (Al-Mada) that “Muthanna Governorate recorded the highest poverty rate at 52%, followed by other southern governorates such as Maysan and Diwaniyah, where poverty rates range between 45 and 48%.” He added that the ministry expects the results of the new economic survey to appear in the coming weeks, which will provide updated information on the level of poverty in all governorates and contribute to directing social and development policies more accurately.
Lack of economic policies
Economic expert Mustafa Akram confirmed to Al-Mada that “the problem of poverty in Iraq has worsened due to the absence of clear and effective economic policies that aim to serve society,” noting that the poverty rate has risen to 40%, which means that more than 16 million Iraqis live below the poverty line in a country rich in economic resources.
Akram explained that “the unfair distribution of national wealth and the lack of effective operational plans are the main reasons for the spread of poverty in this way,” stressing that unemployment, which reaches about 8 million unemployed, plays a fundamental role in exacerbating the crisis, as it leads to an increase in the number of individuals unable to secure a living, which negatively affects many families, including children, widows and people with special needs, who represent between 10 and 20% of the poor.
Regarding the role of social welfare, Akram pointed out that “the safety nets cover about 4 to 5 million beneficiaries in various categories, including widows and people with disabilities, in addition to grants allocated to the unemployed,” and stated that the annual spending on social welfare programs amounts to about 27 trillion Iraqi dinars. However, he noted that this spending, despite its enormity, does not achieve a noticeable improvement in living standards, due to the lack of focus on creating sustainable job opportunities.
Akram believes that the solution lies in activating the work of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs by strengthening vital sectors such as industry, agriculture and tourism, noting that the industrial sector suffers from the absence of loans and protection for local products, while the agricultural sector faces major challenges such as water scarcity and the weakness of the comprehensive agricultural plan. As for the tourism sector, despite Iraq’s rich potential, it is almost paralyzed, and the transportation sector needs a comprehensive update of the infrastructure.
Akram stressed that “corruption is a major obstacle to any progress in these sectors,” stressing that the solution requires directing resources towards the production and employment sectors, which will automatically lead to reducing poverty rates.”
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
[/rtl]
» Central Bank Governor reveals important figures about Iraq's economy and foreign reserves
» utube 10/29/24 MM&C MM&C News Report on Iraq Dinar-2024 Budget Focus-Oil & Gas Export Ceyhan Port-
» utube 10/28/24 MM&C News Reporting-Politics-Financial Reform-Billions Lost-P
» utube 10/31/24 MM&C MM&C News Reporting-Security & Stability-Sinjar Allocations-Unprecedented Develo
» Al-Mashhadani awaits the wrestling ring between Halbousi, Al-Issawi and Al-Khanjar
» MP identifies 3 options for Sunni forces to elect Parliament Speaker
» Parliamentary Committee: The region continues to smuggle 300,000 barrels of oil per day
» Al-Mandlawi calls on MPs to attend the session to elect the Speaker of Parliament
» Political concern and parliamentary fear of the failure of the House of Representatives to choose it
» The Democratic Bloc confirms that it will go with the Sunni majority to vote for the Parliament Spea
» Masoud Barzani sets out principles for forming new Kurdistan Regional Government
» Hours before the session... Sovereignty decides its position and "accepts" Al-Mashhadani as Parliame
» The President of the Kurdistan Region issues a decision to establish three districts in Dohuk
» Supreme Council for Youth: We are about to launch 10 new programs
» Minister of Health: 19 contracts signed with “Private Wings”
» Transport begins unifying Green Bird models
» $6 billion is the volume of trade exchange between Iran and the Kurdistan Region
» After years of controversy, Iran lifts the ban on iPhone customs
» Environment: We have not yet controlled waste burning sites and landfill sites
» Baghdad.. The exchange rate recorded 151250 dinars per 100 dollars
» Iraq.. 31 modern aircraft until 2027 and a move to lift the European ban
» IMF expects non-oil sector growth in Gulf to continue
» Al-Sudani: The language of numbers proves the government's success
» On the road to development
» UNESCO to {Sabah}: We support Iraq's moves to include new sites on the heritage list
» Minister of Health to {Sabah}: Two million employees and citizens are covered by social security
» Baghdad Municipality to {Sabah}: Measures to reduce environmental pollution
» Baghdad hosts today the quadripartite meeting of the {Development Path}
» Al-Najjar: Continuous efforts to improve the investment climate
» With the participation of 15 Arab and foreign countries, a great turnout for the activities of the E
» The private sector has begun a new phase
» Reactivation of securities
» Challenges and opportunities
» Call to establish a digital gold market in Iraq
» Newspapers follow the session to choose the parliament speaker and the four-party meeting on the dev
» Basra Gas Company launches the (Salamtak 24) project to enhance traffic culture among students
» The Arab League holds an extraordinary session today to discuss the response to the occupation's dec
» Al-Mandlawi stresses the necessity of deciding on the election of a new Speaker of the House of Repr
» The Permanent Joint Water Committee between Iraq and Turkey holds its third meeting in Ankara
» Expert reveals indications of the failure of the session to elect the Speaker of Parliament today -
» The lowest in 4 years.. The annual inflation rate in Iraq decreases
» Ministry of Transport strengthens Iraqi Airways fleet as part of steps to lift European ban
» Al-Sudani discusses security and military cooperation with NATO
» Al-Mandlawi stresses the necessity of deciding on the election of a new Speaker of the House of Repr
» Regional elections: confusing results and questionable integrity
» Nechirvan Barzani: Iraq lost $15 billion due to the suspension of oil exports from the Kurdistan Reg
» Al-Sadr expels armed supporters...and today Parliament chooses its speaker
» Unplanned Transformation: Iraq’s Decision to Rely on Gas Plants Threatens Energy Future!
» “Corruption corridors”: How do government institutions in Iraq waste public money and hinder develop
» General Amnesty Law.. Will it turn into a mirage in light of political conflicts?
» Calls to increase housing fund funding to $1 billion to meet citizens’ needs
» After the angry environmental statement and the polluted morning.. Baghdad operations remove burning
» Hours to End the "Crisis of the Year"... Political Positions and Scenarios for the Parliament Speake
» The "Freedom of Expression" Law is Submitted to the Parliament Presidency.. What about "Enforced Dis
» Messages from Al-Mandlawi to political forces and representatives before today's session
» Morning list of dollar exchange rates in Iraq
» Al-Alaq: The volume of currency in circulation exceeds 100 trillion dinars.
» Iraq’s unemployment rate fall to 14.4%
» utube 10/26/24 MM&C News Reporting-Iraqi Dinar-Article 140-Budget Tables- Final Accounts
» MM&C 10/30/24 The Central Bank republishes controls for declaring funds and bringing them in or out
» “Solarizing” government buildings project.. 90 billion dinars for systems that do not meet 1% of ins
» Parliament expects and is not sure.. Ambiguity about the date and details of the 2025 budget schedul
» Experts: Lack of justice in wealth distribution exacerbates poverty in Iraq
» "Corruption corridors"... How do government institutions in Iraq waste public money and hinder devel
» Pavel Talabani: We ended the authoritarian regime in the region
» Foreign remittance sales increase by 99% at the Central Bank of Iraq auction
» New gas production licensing round
» Parliamentary Culture Praises the Performance of the Iraqi Media Network
» Al-Sudani: The language of numbers proves the government's success
» Launching the real estate developer project in Wasit
» Approval of a package of strategic projects in Babylon
» Planning: Completion of 99% of numbering and inventory operations in 15 governorates
» Human Rights: A Study to Find Solutions to the Slums File in the Country
» Government interest develops the financial sector
» Iraqi investment market
» International partnerships within the Iraqi labor market
» Spotlight on BRICS Summit 2024
» Al-Najjar: Continuous efforts to improve the investment climate
» Stopping electronic payment in Baghdad and returning to cash deduction
» Iraqis among few people in the world who prefer Trump to Harris
» Mr. Al-Hakim: Unprecedented development and stability in Iraq, and the Kurdistan elections expressed
» Emaar unveils 3 new residential cities
» With documents.. Shaddad submits five inquiries to the Ministry of Oil about the contracts of the fi
» Economist: Political blocs and figures behind the rise in the dollar exchange rate
» MP: Parliament presidency file to be resolved during Thursday's session
» Basra Gas: We are working to restart the main production line as soon as possible
» To create job opportunities.. The government continues to improve the investment climate in Iraq
» The government is satisfied with forming committees.. Kurdish bloc condemns the violation of Iraqi s
» Legal Committee: We reject including terrorism and financial corruption in the general amnesty
» Due to political bickering, parliament fails to pass important laws
» Baghdad is the second most polluted city in the world according to the World Quality Index
» Justice completes work on the electronic documentation system in all notary public departments in Ba
» Kurdish politician warns of new crisis in region that will delay government formation
» Al-Lami: Judicial authorities continue to investigate money theft files and hold corrupt people acco
» Away from the bidding.. Parliamentary Finance Committee calls on the government to prepare realistic
» Al-Salihi reveals the reasons for postponing the voting session on the Personal Status Law
» Legal: What Türkiye is doing in the north represents a declaration of war on Iraq
» Development Bank: The volume of growth in trade exchange between Iraq and the Emirates reached 41%