Iraqi official highlights rampant corruption, service failures in Basra
Basra, located in southern Iraq, produces 70 percent of the country's oil. However, its residents face a dire lack of water and electricity, poor infrastructure, an underfunded health sector, high unemployment, and severe environmental pollution.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The deputy head of the Economy and Industry Committee of the Iraqi Parliament has reported numerous violations in investment and service projects in Basra province, leading to significant project failures.
Despite being rich in oil, Basra suffers from severe poverty and inadequate services.
Basra, located in southern Iraq, produces 70 percent of the country's oil. However, its residents face a dire lack of water and electricity, poor infrastructure, an underfunded health sector, high unemployment, and severe environmental pollution.
Yasser al-Husseini, Deputy Chairman of the Economic Committee and a member of the Iraqi Parliament, holds Basra Governor Assad Abdulameer al-Edani responsible for the province's plight, emphasizing that corruption is rampant in Basra. He stated that a special committee, led by MP Saud al-Saadi, has been established in the Iraqi Parliament to oversee investment and service projects in Basra.
According to al-Husseini, investigations have revealed many violations and considerable project waste in the province. He specifically mentioned the health sector, highlighting a concerning increase in cancer cases, with seven out of ten patients being diagnosed with the disease. He also criticized the Basra-Aqaba oil pipeline contract, describing it as weak.
Al-Husseini called on the Iraqi Prime Minister to intervene and address the issues, urging action to save Basra from its ongoing struggles with poverty and poor public services.
