Census began in Kurdistan Region, Iraq
The senior officials in Kurdistan Region and Iraq too highlighted that census has its own importance and characteristics for the populations.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The general population census began across Kurdistan Region and Iraq, on Wednesday morning.
According to the sources from local authorities, more than 130,000 census counting team are participating in the census, asking 77 questions about the lives of citizens.
The General Authority for Statistics and Geographic Information Systems at the Ministry of Planning confirmed that the population census process begins from 7 am until midnight for two days, while it indicated that the census counting team will visit each house 3 times to complete and verify the data.
The Ministry of Planning explained on Tuesday November 19th, 2024, the reasons to including inquiries in the general census application form.
Indicating the need to determine the social classes, economic situation, measuring the level of prosperity and poverty in each specific area.
It is also to provide these services to the areas of concerns that need services according to what was specified in the census form.
While it confirmed that the form will determine the areas that need more services and need service effort.
For its part, the Ministry of Trade confirmed that the general population census is an important step to direct the investments, which improve all the regions in Iraq.
The senior officials in Kurdistan Region and Iraq too highlighted that census has its own importance and characteristics to determine the human capacity of the population, necessities, level of public services to provide a better life for citizens, on its obligation the governments to be transparent in drafting economic, political and humanitarian plans.
A Spokesman from the Iraqi Ministry of Planning stressed the census plan initially to draw up the general development, “but for those who have changed their place of residence will be asked about their current and past address, what were the reasons for their move, 16 questions about their displacement and their answers must be correct to identify the origin and ethnicity,"
According to their statement the citizens who wouldn’t participate in the census to get registered in the system, they won’t have a file of themselves nor their descendants in the future.
They warn citizens not to cause potential troubles in the future, also encourage people to preserve their identity and ancestry.
The Minister of Interior chaired a meeting that included the Chairman, members of the Supreme Committee for the General Population, Housing Census 2024, a number of security leaders and officers, directed to review the final measures taken to secure the general census process with conducting a study by taking advantage of the procedures of the numbering period that preceded the census.
Emphasizing the provision of full protection for the staff working to run the population census, and ensuring the complete this process successfully, stressing at the same time the consideration of humanitarian cases during the curfew period for the population census process.
The Federal Ministry of Planning announced that Iraq will apply the international standards in the general census in coordination with the United Nations.
The Ministry’s Spokesman Abdul Zahra al-Hindawi revealed that the United Nations Population Fund formed an international advisory committee and experts to monitor the quality of work and ensure the application of the international standards in conducting the general population census.
He also highlighted that a special team have been formed to coordinate with the United Nations Population Fund, to follow up on the control of the data and procedures related to the general population census in the country.