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BAGHDAD, Iraq — Some residents in the Iraqi capital are voicing their dissatisfaction with the current government's empty promises to improve services like sewers and roads.
"The state is financially strong. Its net worth surpasses billions of dollars. The whole world is eyeing our country due to our oil. In other words, we are the richest country in the world, but at the same time we are the poorest people in the world," Halim Hatam, a resident from Tariq neighborhood in Baghdad
Residents there and in the Muntazar neighborhood have complained of litter piling up on the streets — grounds where children play.
"[The government] does not implement what we are asking for. Nobody cares about us. We do not know who we should turn to. Look, we are just asking them to pave a single street with asphalt," said another man in Tariq.
They say whatever means they try is futile with Baghdad authorities.
"We are pleading the Iraqi government to reach out to us. Enough… We are completely exhausted. Please, take care of us," said Karim Shabwat, a local resident.
Majid Ali Saeedi, an official at the Baghdad governorate's office, told Rudaw that no budget has been allocated for 100s of projects which were planned three years ago.
"Many of the Baghdad projects have been sabotaged. Nearly 700 projects have stopped — 350 are investment projects and the other 450 service. The cornerstone of these projects was laid during the previous cabinet's tenure. Now that no budget has been allocated for them, work has stopped leaving them unfinished. This is all due to the lack of a strategic plan," said Saeedi.
Iraq's parliamentary elections are set for May 12. Campaigning began on April 14.
Incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is heading the Nasr (Victory) Coalition. His list in the Shiite-dominated country faces stiff competition from former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law Coalition.
Abadi has pledged to root out corruption and is riding the wave of the military defeat of ISIS in Iraq.
Iraq is among the most corrupt nations in the world, coming 169 out of 180 countries ranked by Transparency International.
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