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Villagers in Iraqi Kurdistan need
governmental assistance
12.7.2012
By Ruwayda Mustafah Rabar - Kurdish Rights |
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Village of Kani Shwardi, Kurdistan region of Iraq,
July 7, 2012. Photo: Ruwayda Mustafah Rabar
Village of Mam Chokhan, Kurdistan region of Iraq,
July 7, 2012. Photo: Ruwayda Mustafah Rabar
Village of Darband, Kurdistan region of Iraq, July
7, 2012. Photo: Ruwayda Mustafah Rabar
July 12, 2012
ERBIL-Hewlêr, Kurdistan region 'Iraq', —
Alliance For Kurdish rights latest project is to
ensure that the Kurdish Regional Government pays
attention to those vulnerable, and neglected. In
light of our new project, we went to the villages
surrounding Hewler province, situated around
Kasnazan in Southern Kurdistan on July 7. Our goal
was to interview the locals, and to document their
concerns.
The people extended their hospitality to us, invited
us inside their houses and spoke about their
concerns in the village. The problems were numerous,
but the most important being access to water,
hospitals, education, and road construction. Locals
complained about the lack of governmental care, and
more importantly attention to their concerns. One
local in the village of Kani Shwardi said, “It takes
months to get a permit to do anything around here.
The government has neglected us”. All locals in the
villages surrounding Hewler province pointed out
that during election campaigns there is a greater
presence of politicians and governmental ministers
in the region.
Village of Kani Shwardi
This village has approximately 15 houses. There are
no roads, driving uphill was easy but most of the
villagers would have to walk in the slippery slope
to get to their houses. We were greeted by an
elderly man, who invited us inside their small
house. It wasn’t long before the locals all gathered
around us, each speaking about their concerns in the
region, hopeful that the Kurdistan Regional
Government pays attention to their grievances. Their
problems are as follows;
(1) No access to water for farming
(2) Small school which does not cater for all the
students
(3) Poor teaching standard within the only school in
the village
(4) No access to hospitals or police
(5) No roads or investment in the area
The villagers here did not want government
hand-outs, they simply wanted assistance for their
basic needs such as access to water. They pointed
out that without water they could not farm,
consequently all their teenage sons and young men
have travelled to the main cities in search of jobs,
or those who have decided to pursue their education.
During winter the conditions in this village are
horrific due to flooding, and electricity cuts. In
case of accidents there are no doctors within
reaching distance, and as a result this has made
life hard for the villagers.
Village of Mam Chokhan
This village has more than 50 houses according to
the locals we interviewed. Similarly to the village
of Kani Shwardi; their main concern was in regard to
access to water, hospitals and road construction.
One of the men in this village told us, ”We were
told by the governor to pay for the road
construction ourselves. Some of the people here
agreed to do this, but others refused, and as a
result we have been left in this situation”.
Farming could improve the living standard of
villagers. It would help reduce the cost of fruits
and vegetables, as well as earn the locals a
livelihood. According to Mohamed Karem the
government can help the villagers by giving them
access to water, farming equipment and planting
ingredients, which would help them initiate their
farming plans.
Village of Baxcha
There were a handful of houses in this village.
Similar to the above mentioned villages, the locals
wanted access to water and governmental attention to
their concerns. One of the elderly women said,
“There are no transportation services here.
Sometimes I have to go to the main cities to get an
injection or tablets, and I swear, it takes 2-3
hours for me to wait on the main roads in hope that
someone would have mercy and take me with them”.
Villages face numerous problems, for example women
have no access to shelter houses or safety if they
are victims of violence. We asked one of the newly
wedded women in the village of Baxcha about the
options available for women if they were victims of
violence, she simply laughed saying, “Women have
learned to be patient and tolerant. We have to
endure it because there is nothing else to do”.
Village of Darband
This village had one school, which was opened last
year. We spoke to the chief of the village who
explained that few options were available for
locals, particularly youth. He explained,
“Unemployment is high in these villages. There are
no jobs here. Everyone is slowly leaving villages
for the main cities because the living standards are
becoming unbearable here”.
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