Tishwash: Oil Doesn’t Feed the Poor: Where Does Iraq’s Wealth Go?!
In a country with one of the world’s largest oil reserves, scenes of destitution and poverty are still strongly present in the streets and working-class neighborhoods. Iraq, with its vast wealth, is powerless to address the dilemma of poverty, which now affects the lives of millions of citizens.
Official statistics indicate that more than a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line. As economic and political crises worsen, the roots of this phenomenon deepen, transforming from a social problem into a real threat to societal stability.
According to a 2024 report by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning, the poverty rate reached approximately 25% nationwide, with higher rates recorded in the southern governorates and conflict-affected areas. In Muthanna Governorate, for example, the rate exceeded 50%, reflecting the magnitude of the economic gap between Iraq’s various regions.
The spread of poverty is attributed to several factors, most notably: high unemployment among young people, a lack of development projects, deteriorating infrastructure, and financial and administrative corruption that has depleted public budgets without affecting the lives of ordinary citizens. The absence of a clear strategy for wealth distribution has deprived large segments of their basic rights to education, healthcare, and adequate housing.
Babylon of Civilization… At the forefront of poverty
in Babylon Governorate, the cradle of civilization and home to the world’s first law stele, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ahmed Al-Asadi announced during a joint press conference with Babylon Governor Adnan Fayhan that the governorate has the second-highest poverty rate in Iraq.
This statement sparked a wave of anger against the government and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s development plans, especially with Babylon’s inclusion on the World Heritage List, raising questions about development priorities and wealth management.
The Voice of the Poor… A Cry in the Face of Silence
“Umm Ali,” a widow living in a slum in Baghdad, told Video News Agency:
“We live on whatever God provides. My children left school to help me collect empty cans from the street. No one asks about us, and the government doesn’t see us.”
Despite government initiatives such as the social safety net and food basket distribution, experts believe these solutions are temporary and insufficient unless accompanied by real economic reforms that create job opportunities and boost local production.
Umm Hussein, a widow and mother of four, described her suffering to the Video News Agency, saying:
“After my husband’s death, I have no one left to support me. I rely on the social welfare salary, but it is sometimes delayed and sometimes not fully disbursed. I am forced to work cleaning houses to cover school expenses and food.”
Poverty is not just numbers… but a daily pain
Poverty in Iraq is not just numbers in official reports; it is a daily story experienced by millions in silence and pain. As the challenges mount, there remains an urgent need for a serious stance from the state and society to rescue those drowning in the quagmire of poverty and pave the way for a more just and equitable future. link
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Tishwash: As Trump’s visit to the region approaches, Iraq is expected to play a role in the Arab Summit in Baghdad.
Political analyst Talib Mohammed Karim asserted that the upcoming Arab Summit in Baghdad, coinciding with an anticipated visit to the region by former US President Donald Trump, could reshape political roles and give Iraq a prominent position on the regional scene.
During his appearance on the “Free Talk” program on Al Furat satellite channel, Karim said, “This is not the first summit that Baghdad has hosted since 2003; but it comes at a sensitive time when regional changes are accelerating, which may push Iraq to the forefront of the summit’s political discussions.”
He pointed out that “the importance of the summit lies in its moral dimension for Iraq, as it is one of the founding states of the Arab League and seeks to consolidate its position as a regional and international political player.”
Karim stressed that “Iraq will be the ‘crown’ of the Arab Summit, and no party has the right to diminish its role, whether from a protocol or political perspective,” noting that “the European Union’s members met on the basis of shared interests, while the Arab League’s members were divided due to conflicting political interests.”
He expressed his concerns about the impact of the summit’s final statement on the level of representation, saying, “If the statement includes any reference to the Zionist entity, it is likely that leaders of countries such as Morocco, Algeria, and the Sultanate of Oman will abstain from attending, as happened at the 2012 Baghdad summit, which was attended only by the Emir of Kuwait.”
Karim added that “the repeated aggression against Syrian territory must be among the summit’s topics, given its repercussions for regional security,” considering that “Iran’s role as a regional power cannot be ignored, and the Trump administration’s renewed recognition of the Iranian nuclear issue constitutes an acknowledgment of its strength, which Iraq can leverage within the region’s balance of power.”
The political analyst concluded his remarks by asserting that “the summit represents an important opportunity for Iraq to strengthen its diplomatic standing, not only in the Arab context but also within the broader international interactions that will be affected by its outcomes.” link
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Tishwash: Parliament is suspended until further notice. Election campaigns and internal crises postpone sessions until after Eid.
MP for the Coordination Framework, Mukhtar al-Moussawi, expects the suspension of parliament sessions to continue during the current month, until Eid al-Adha.
Al-Moussawi said in a statement followed by (Al-Mada), “There is a clear disruption to parliament’s work, and it is likely that parliament sessions will not be held in the coming days, especially since it will enter a legislative recess starting next week.”
He added, “There is talk about resuming parliament sessions after the Eid al-Adha holiday, in addition to other reasons that were an obstacle to the continuation of parliament sessions, represented by election campaigns that began early.”
He explained that “there are many problems within parliament that prevent the parliament from holding sessions or achieving the required quorum, and therefore the parliament will remain suspended throughout the current month and beyond, until after the Eid al-Adha holiday.” link
Tishwash: Kurdistan Delegation Meets Iraqi Oil Ministry and Epicur Over Oil Export Resumption
A high-level delegation from the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Natural Resources arrived in Baghdad today to meet with officials from the Iraqi Oil Ministry and international oil companies, including Epicur, to discuss the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region.
The meeting comes amid ongoing efforts to resolve the prolonged suspension of oil exports, which has cost Iraq an estimated 300,000 barrels of oil per day. Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani recently stated that Iraq continues to suffer significant financial losses due to the halt and expressed surprise over what he described as new conditions set by the Kurdistan Region for the resumption of exports.
Today’s meeting is expected to focus on overcoming the legal and technical challenges hindering the export process and finding a mutual agreement that would allow oil from the Kurdistan Region to flow back into international markets.
Negotiations between Baghdad and Erbil have stalled several times over the past year due to disputes over oil revenue sharing and control of export infrastructure. link
