Despite being one of the richest regions of the country, Basra has a long list of problems that has overflowed the patience of its inhabitants.
Again the indignation took to the streets to the residents of Basra, in the south of Iraq, where this Sunday (02.09.2018) saw massive protests by the continuous cuts of electricity and the supply of water not apt to drink, that already has caused diseases. Despite being one of the most oil-rich areas in the country, the region does not see progress being extended to all.
Thousands of people have been poisoned after drinking water wells became contaminated. The main rally occurred outside the oil field of Nahr Ben Omar, where protesters threatened to break into. Hours later, a new demonstration was registered in front of the headquarters of the regional government, in the city of Basra, which was dispersed by the police with tear gas and even shots into the air.
According to Colonel Ali Abdulamir of the Basra Police, the neighbors are asking to improve basic services, as well as more job opportunities. The people of the region, led by young people and tribal leaders, have been protesting against the government and corruption for weeks. “It’s time for those responsible to pay for their mistakes of years,” said activist Murtada Ali. “The lack of public services and especially clean drinking water is a scandal,” he added.
Drought is responsible
There were also protests in the city of Shatt al Arab (southeast), where hundreds of people organized a sit-in on the road to the Iranian border and threatened to keep the road closed if their demands were not met. The Government of Basra has asked the Iraqi Executive to take the necessary measures and provide funds to correct the problems in the supply of drinking water.
The poisonings have been caused by the pollution of the Shatt al Arab river and the increase in salinity caused by the drought that affects the country and has reduced the flow of rivers from Iran and Turkey, explained to Efe engineer Salam Abdullah.
A member of Basra’s provincial council, Ghanim Hamid, complained in a statement that the Iraqi government “did not keep its promises or provide money” to the region to solve the drinking water problem. In the note, Hamid warned of the danger of a possible cholera epidemic in Basra if the problem of water pollution is not addressed.
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