Rugged terrain faces harsh winter
Pshdar residents face cold without heating oil, turn to wood burning
PSHDAR — Residents in the Pshdar area of Sulaymaniyah governorate are raising concerns over the lack of household oil distribution ahead of the winter months, with many worried about how they will heat their homes. Villagers say they typically require five to six barrels of oil to survive the cold season, but high prices in the market have made it unaffordable for most.
Ali Ahmed, a local resident, explained the situation to 964media, saying, “Our area is mountainous and cold. Each year, the government provides one barrel of oil to residents. This year, the price was too high, and people refused it. Even if the price drops, one barrel is not enough because an average household needs five to six barrels to survive the winter.”
Ahmed noted that the current market price for a barrel of oil is nearly 150,000 Iraqi dinars ($98), far beyond the means of most families in the area. As a result, many have turned to cutting down trees from nearby forests as an alternative source of heating, contributing to deforestation.
In the Kurdistan Region, the government typically distributes a set amount of subsidized oil to citizens each year. This year, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Natural Resources announced that 200 liters of oil would be provided to each household at a price of 104,000 Iraqi dinars ($68), a decision that has sparked dissatisfaction, particularly in colder, mountainous areas like Pshdar.
“Each household needs more than two tractor loads of wood to replace oil and heat their homes during the winter. For one load, you need more than 50 trees to fill it. This is causing deforestation in our area, and we hope the government can supply the necessary oil to prevent further damage to our environment,” Ahmed added.
Jabar Adam, the head of Pshdar’s forestry and environmental police, confirmed the challenges, telling 964media, “We do not allow anyone to cut down trees just for heating, except for dry or dead trees. However, people must notify local authorities and work under our supervision. We guide them through this process, and if anyone cuts trees without informing us, we take legal action.”
According to Pshdar’s environmental authorities, there are currently 30 cases of illegal logging in the region. The unauthorized cutting of trees has caused environmental damage, while the region’s green coverage in urban areas remains below 7%.