Protests erupt over poor services in Diwaniyah, Najaf
These demonstrations are part of a series of ongoing protests in the districts and sub-districts of Diwaniyah and Najaf, highlighting issues with electricity and water supply.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - The residents of al-Shaafa'i district in Diwaniyah province began their morning on Monday, July 15, 2024, with early demonstrations to protest neglect and poor services.
These demonstrations are part of a series of ongoing protests in the districts and sub-districts of Diwaniyah and Najaf, highlighting issues with electricity and water supply.
Key Points of Protest:
Early Morning Demonstrations: Residents of al-Shaafa'i organized demonstrations and burned tires to protest the deterioration of essential services.
Night Protests in Al-Shamiya: These morning protests coincided with night demonstrations in the al-Shamiya district and followed similar protests in the al-Haidariya district in Najaf al-Ashraf and al-Ghammas district between Diwaniyah and Najaf, which saw injuries among demonstrators due to live bullets.
Accusations of Injustice: The protesters accuse the federal government, the Ministry of Electricity, and its distribution companies of unfair distribution of electricity hours, favoring certain districts, regions, or governorates over others.
Government Response:
The media office of Diwaniyah Governorate acknowledged the grievances and stated that the local government is striving to achieve a better electricity operating rate. Diwaniyah currently needs 850 megawatts of power but only receives 4 hours of electricity outage and 2 hours of supply.
The protests reflect a broader dissatisfaction with the federal government's handling of essential services and highlight the urgent need for equitable solutions to the region's electricity and water crises.
