Dhi Qar Fire Sparks Allegations of Official Corruption
A large fire in Dhi Qar threatens homes and burns groves, as residents allege the land was illegally acquired through official bribes. Authorities have not yet commented on the blaze or the serious allegations of corruption.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A large fire swept through agricultural groves south of the city of Nasiriyah on Monday, threatening nearby homes and immediately exposing deep-seated local grievances, with residents alleging the blaze is consuming illegally developed land obtained through official corruption.
Firefighting teams, aided by local residents using basic tools, were struggling to contain the flames in the Al Bu Azzam area of the Al-Fadhiliya sub-district as of Monday afternoon. The cause of the fire remains officially unknown, and security institutions have yet to issue a formal statement on the incident.
A security source confirmed the developing emergency to Iraqi media on Monday, stating that a "large fire broke out in the groves of the Al Bu Azzam area" and that "the flames are approaching nearby homes." The source noted the collaborative effort to fight the blaze, highlighting that firefighting teams are actively working to extinguish the fire with assistance from local residents.
According to the source, residents have joined the effort out of a pressing "fear that the fire will reach their homes," many of them resorting to "very basic tools" to try and beat back the flames.
While the immediate focus is on containing the emergency, eyewitnesses and area residents have been quick to point to what they describe as a long-standing problem of corruption and illegal land appropriation that has plagued the area. According to statements from residents, the fire is not only destroying historic groves but also burning agricultural lands and plots that were "developed illegally."
These residents allege that the parcels of land were illicitly distributed to individuals through a system of "bribes paid to officials in the municipal and agricultural institutions." They directly link this alleged corruption to the current disaster, stating that as a result of these illegal transactions, "the lands are now facing being burned and destroyed."
The local population’s concerns extend beyond the current fire. They claim that the unlawful sale and purchase of land in the Al Bu Azzam area, conducted in violation of government directives, has also had a detrimental "impacted the environment of the villages."
Furthermore, they accuse local authorities of deliberate inaction and complicity. Residents stated that "the government institutions in Dhi Qar remain silent and inactive in the face of this clear and blatant violation." They attribute this official silence to the direct involvement of corrupt individuals, asserting that "there are officials who have facilitated these transactions in exchange for bribes."
As the fire continues to burn and the community grapples with the potential loss of homes and property, the incident has cast a harsh spotlight on serious allegations of systemic corruption within the province’s administrative bodies. The lack of an official statement from security institutions has only amplified the residents' claims of official negligence and fueled further suspicion surrounding the circumstances of the fire and the land it is consuming.
