Salah Al-Din residents welcome census teams with hospitality and support

SALAH AL-DIN — Census teams working in the rural district of Al-Hadhira Al-Sharqiya in Balad, Salah Al-Din governorate, are navigating rugged terrain and long distances between homes as they collect population and housing data. Residents have welcomed the teams with notable hospitality, offering support and cooperation throughout the process.

Local resident Mohammed Latif told 964 media, “We welcomed the census teams and had been expecting them for a week. We served them lunch because they came to serve us in these rural areas, and we’ve been working with them for a month now.”

Team member Wissam Mohammed highlighted the logistical challenges in making sure data is accurate for the countryside, saying, “The greatest challenge in the countryside is the distance between houses. We often rely on motorbikes or vehicles to reach certain homes, especially those located across canals or in hard-to-reach areas.”

Residents have expressed their appreciation for the teams’ dedication. “This is our fourth visit to the area,” said Hilal Awad. “Today, we provided all the required information about household members and necessary documents. We also extended our hospitality to ensure the success of their mission.”

Local community leader Mohammed Hamad Khalaf emphasized the importance of the census and the cooperation between residents and the teams. “We welcome the census teams into our homes and fulfill our duty of hospitality. We’ve provided all the information they need because their work is for our benefit,” he said.

The census, Iraq’s first nationwide effort in nearly 40 years, began on Wednesday and continues through Thursday. Approximately 120,000 field researchers are collecting data across the country under a nationwide curfew, aiming to gather demographic information on Iraq’s estimated 44 million residents. The last full census took place in 1987, with subsequent efforts delayed due to war, political tensions, and disputes between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region.