IRAQ: Baghdad retains its position at the bottom of a list as the place offering the worst quality of life

Record ID: 731131

  • Title: IRAQ: Baghdad retains its position at the bottom of a list as the place offering the worst quality of life
  • Date: 1st July 2010
  • Summary: CLAY BUILT HOUSES ON SIDE ON ROAD CLAY BUILT HOUSE AT SITE OF AL-RASHEED MILITARY CAMP CHILDREN SITTING AT OPEN YARD OF CLAY-BUILT HOUSE BOY COLLECTING PLASTIC BOTTLES GIRL WASHING KETTLE MEN AND CHILDREN IN OPEN YARD TWO CHILDREN WITH FLIES ON THEIR FACES
  • Embargoed: 16th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA7EVYTF4CRSKCWDA6LKDD5VV42
  • Story Text: A survey conducted by British management consultancy Mercer has ranked the Iraqi capital Baghdad at the bottom of a list for overall quality of living despite slight improvements in its infrastructure and moves to encourage investment in the country.
    Daily life in Baghdad remains tough with severe water and electricity shortages driving up running costs for businesses and residents.
    The rumble of expensive diesel generators have become a fixture of daily life and a tangle of electrical wires has become a common sight in Baghdad's neighbourhoods. Observers say failure to quickly fix supplies has been a major factor in the erosion of public support for the U.S. occupation and the Iraqi government.
    William Warda, President of the Hammurabi human rights organization says he is not surprised at Baghdad's poor rating.
    "There has been a collapse of infrastructure since 2003 and until now there has been no serious effort to raise the status of this country. There is a power crisis, which is permanent and seems to be going on forever. There is also a poor sewage network and garbage-collecting system. Garbage is being thrown in streets," Warda told Reuters.
    Baghdad's estimated 6.5 million residents have to go about their business in the scorching heat of summer. There is not enough electricity to power air conditioners and water taps in large parts of the Iraqi capital have run dry.
    Many residents have buy bottled drinking water, an additional expense that poorly paid Iraqis can ill-afford.
    It is not only hard to live in Baghdad, it's dangerous too. There is the risk of sectarian violence and attacks from insurgents at any time.
    Frequent attacks and suicide car bombs are still claiming a large number of lives despite a sharp drop in overall violence since the all-out sectarian warfare of 2006-07.
    The violence has forced thousands to flee their homes and take shelter in bombed-out government buildings, living in bare concrete rooms with no running water, no electricity and no sewage or garbage disposal.
    "Iraqi citizens are not only targeted by car bombs and killing, but are also targeted by epidemics caused by garbage and environmental pollution and carelessness," William Warda said.
    Warda says the issue is not only the garbage and infrastructure but also a lack of education.
    "There is no awareness of society to keep the city clean because as you know cleanness is part of education, the education of the society. There is in fact a strange education in Baghdad. Baghdad has never been like this before. I think that a lot of effort is needed to improve the situation. Everyone including civil society organisations have to take part, not just the government," he said.
    In contrast to Baghdad, The Mercer survey said Western European cities had fared well despite the global economic downturn with Vienna retaining the top spot for best quality of living.
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