Government delegation visits oil-rich Basra to listen to residents

BASRA – In response to recent extensive demonstrations in northern Basra, a delegation representing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani visited the Al-Sadiq district to heed the grievances voiced by its residents. Despite churning out 500,000 barrels of oil daily, this area has often been labeled a “forgotten area.”

Last month, Al-Sadiq became the epicenter of protests that swept through parts of Basra province, with demonstrators citing neglect and mismanagement under Governor Asaad Al-Eidani’s provincial government.

Jaber Al-Hassani, an advisor to the Prime Minister for provincial projects, emphasized the significance of the delegation’s visit, stating that recommendations would be conveyed to Baghdad to tackle the district’s concerns.

“Listening to the demands of the popular movement in Al-Sadiq district represents an important step,” Al-Hassani said, highlighting the committee’s formation by the Prime Minister’s directive to monitor the area’s service situation.

Adnan Al-Jaberi, a Basra parliament deputy, disclosed that a series of recommendations had been put forth to the governor, encompassing health, employment, and environmental issues, with the aim of channeling them to the Prime Minister.

“Today, we will collect all the demands from the departments…these areas have been marginalized and forgotten,” Al-Jaberi emphasized, underscoring the urgency to address the situation.

Rafid Al-Shawi, the acting district commissioner of Al-Sadiq, outlined key concerns raised with the government committee, including the establishment of an oil training institute and the dire need for a 100-bed hospital and an employment office to bolster local job opportunities.

Basra and other southern Iraq regions have witnessed several waves of protests over the years, fueled by grievances over unemployment and inadequate public services. Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s government has positioned itself as prioritizing the improvement of the country’s poor state of public services and infrastructure.