PM’s Spokesperson: Iraq still needs billions to reconstruct liberated areas

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq requires billions of dollars for the reconstruction of liberated areas and is unable to provide this amount by itself, an Iraqi official reiterated on Monday.

According to Saad Al-Hadithi, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s spokesperson, the total amount needed for the reconstruction of areas liberated from the so-called Islamic State (IS) is at least USD 80 billion.

“We need about $80 billion to reconstruct and rehabilitate the liberated cities, and to introduce services to other cities that have not been [directly affected by the IS war], but have experienced deterioration in services,” he told reporters at a press conference.

Hadithi pointed to the Iraqi government’s inability to provide these amounts due to “the economic crisis that is ravaging the country.”

“The government has been keen to cooperate with the international community through the donor conference in Kuwait,” he said, referring to an event Kuwait hosted for the reconstruction of Iraq following the military defeat of IS.

Despite contributions and investments from Iraq’s allies, the amount donated fell short of Baghdad’s goal of $88.2 billion.

Meanwhile, some nations like Germany and France have assisted in the removal of explosive devices left by IS in liberated areas to facilitate the return of displaced persons.

The reconstruction of cities affected by the IS war will help ease the Kurdistan Region’s burden as well.

Since the extremist group’s emergence, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has provided shelter to over 1.4 million refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The KRG continues to rely on its own resources to provide aid to IDPs who still cannot return to their homes due to security concerns and a lack of services.