Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani in a meeting on December 8, 2023. Photo: Sudani's office
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Saturday announced the launch of 14 infrastructure and rehabilitation projects in Shingal (Sinjar) and Nineveh.
The 14 projects are part of “the first package of infrastructure and rehabilitation projects in Sinjar District and the Nineveh Plains regions, at a cost of 18 billion dinars. The projects include the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and development of main roads linking the districts and villages,” read a statement from Sudani’s office.
“These projects, funded by the Sinjar and Nineveh Plains Reconstruction Fund, are part of the government's vision to adopt a group of development projects focusing on the reconstruction of Sinjar district, the Nineveh Plain, and the sub-districts of Zummar and al-Qahtaniyah, which were subjected to systematic attacks by the terrorist ISIS,” Sudani said in a speech made by video link.
Shingal is the homeland of Yazidis who were subjected to heinous atrocities and massacres when the Islamic State (ISIS) captured the region in 2014 and committed genocide. ISIS was declared territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017, but reconstruction of Shingal has been slow.
The Iraqi prime minister said that the special reconstruction fund was established because of the sacrifices made by the people of Shingal and the Nineveh Plains and the injustices they suffered both under ISIS and the former Iraqi regime.
Many Yazidis are still living in camps or towns and cities in the Kurdistan Region, unable to return home because of lack of reconstruction, poor economic opportunities, and insecurity. Sudani said he was committed to implementing projects to accelerate their return and ensure a decent life, and was adopting an emergency plan to address the needs of targeted areas in "water, electricity, education, and health sectors."
Another key project is Sinjar University, he said.
Sudani noted the coordination between ministries, service departments, and administrative units to prevent conflicts that could obstruct execution of the planned projects. He also said that the Sinjar and Nineveh Plains regions have natural resources that could transform them into economic hubs supporting development and creating job opportunities.
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