Iraq removes over 500,000 ‘ghost beneficiaries’ from food ration system

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Trade has removed more than 500,000 unauthorized individuals from the country’s food ration system as part of an ongoing shift to a digital registration platform. Officials say the number of deletions could reach 1.5 million as verification efforts continue.

“The electronic food ration card system is part of the government’s digital transformation plans,” Trade Ministry spokesperson Mohammed Hanoun told state-run Al-Iraqiya. “We are working to eliminate violations in the food basket system — including misuse and financial waste — and the digital platform will simplify the process of deletion and modification compared to the previous paper-based methods.”

Iraq’s Public Distribution System, commonly referred to as the “ration card,” was launched in the 1990s to ensure the supply of basic goods to citizens during periods of conflict and sanctions. The program entitles registered households to monthly portions of staple items such as flour, rice, sugar, and cooking oil.

The system has long faced criticism for inefficiency, corruption, and outdated records — prompting renewed efforts for reform. According to Hanoun, 16.8 million Iraqis have registered on the new platform so far, out of an eligible population of around 25 million.

He said current figures do not include residents of the Kurdistan Region or the governorates of Basra, Dhi Qar, Najaf, and Karbala, where digital registration is expected to begin later this month.

“Once someone logs into the app and creates an account, we can verify that they’re inside Iraq,” Hanoun said. “The ministry’s teams will update data for the elderly and people with disabilities, and we encourage citizens to report deaths.”

Wasit governorate was used as a pilot site, where authorities uncovered about 100,000 ineligible or fictitious entries — often referred to as “ghost beneficiaries.” Hanoun said more than 500,000 such cases have already been removed, with further deletions anticipated.

“The number is expected to reach 1.5 million,” he said.

Citizens who wish to update, appeal, or correct their records can visit their local ration centers. “We’re making technical changes to the platform so it can handle edits, lifting bans, and other updates,” Hanoun added. “Our technical support team is available 24 hours a day to assist with issues and report them to the responsible application team.”