[Iraq] Poverty chronic in Iraq

from Azzaman

More than 20% of Iraqis live in abject poverty despite the boost in government’s social security program, a report by the Ministry of Planning reveals.

The poverty level is bound to increase due to inefficiencies in the distribution of food rations which are credited for saving the country from starvation.

Facing tough armed resistance and political inaction, the government has proved much less efficient than the former regime which U.S. troops ousted three years ago in handing out food rations.

Iraqi families now get less food than before and certain essential items have gone missing from the food ration card.

Prices of staples like rice, sugar, flour and vegetable ghee are soaring. Iraqis without income find it extremely hard to make ends meet.

The government has expanded its social security program which now covers hundreds of thousands of families.

But welfare benefits are meager and fall short of meeting basic needs.

Under the new social security arrangements a poor family – one without support or income – gets an average of 80,000 dinars.

The sum is much bigger than what civil servants made under former leader Saddam Hussein.

But prices have skyrocketed particularly of fuel, rent and other basic needs.