Environment Ministry Flags Budget and Staffing Constraints
A parliamentary review focused on Iraq’s environmental policy, water pollution, waste, land degradation and the ministry’s lack of operating funds.
Parliament’s Regions and Planning Committee heard from Environment Minister Sarwa Abdul Wahid on implementation of the government programme. The minister said the ministry has received no operational budget allocation for two consecutive years and faces serious staffing shortages.
The meeting addressed pollution, water and sewage problems, waste burning, desertification, contaminated land and environmental oversight of oil activity. The committee called for further hearings with Baghdad and provincial officials on urgent water-treatment and public-health concerns.
Original reporting: Iraqi Council of Representatives ↗