Presentation of Survey Results Revealing poverty needs and views assessment in Iraq
Press Release: Iraqi AlAmal Association (IAA) – in conjunction with Sheikh Khalifa Charity Foundation, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), held a meeting to present survey results revealing poverty needs assessment in Iraq. The event was attended by nearly 220 participants, from government institutions, civil society organizations, trade unions and political parties, schools and universities’ faculties, members of city and local councils from different provinces, and mass media.
120 acknowledgement certificates were handed out to members of coordination teams, provinces’ implementing partner civil society organizations, supportive city and local councils, cooperating government departments in the provinces, and to young volunteers who took part actively in the project, in a precedent act, of devoting their voluntary efforts in distributions, documenting, survey’s and records’ data entry and processing,
Dr. Tahira Dakhil, the project manager, briefed in a comprehensive presentation on the projects’ activities and successful partnership between different civil society organizations and local communities while implementing this challenging project of distributing 110000 packed Iftar meals, distributed to more than 26000 families, and 30000 school bags, Baghdad, Basra, Najaf, Kerbala, Diwaniya, Babil, Anbar, Diyala, Saladdin, Kirkuk, and Sulaimaniya, where distributions took place in country and slum areas. In addition to revealing results of the field survey along with the project, concerning economical and social needs assessment related directly to the lives of targeted families during the distribution, highlighting on poverty and severe deprivation of IDPs and poor families in the project’s targeted areas.
The survey was implemented between September 1st and 22nd, 2008 in 11 Iraqi provinces, survey sample selected was 11198, 60% were male- 40% female, of which 65% from female count were widows-15% divorced, 66% with monthly income below than 250 thousand Iraqi Dinars. The survey also revealed that their needs priorities were given to Electricity and water then food, work and housing, 68% do not receive any support from government, while 21% receive support from civil society organizations, 37% believed in government capacity to respond to their needs, 87% from the IDPs targeted in the survey wish to get back to their own homes. As for participating in the coming elections 58% will take part and 19% will not, voting for independent figures was prioritized with the highest percent of 26.3%, next came the democratic and secular blocks with 23.7%, then the religions blocks with 22.7%. On the role of UN in Iraq, keeping peace and security percent was 48%- while role in providing aids and relief was 23%, and supervising elections 21%,
Incorporating Audio visual activities and presentations in the event programme, which reflected in a comprehensive show the spirit of the project and achievement, had an intense impact, outreaching audience in an unconventional show resulting full interaction of audience with the activities of the meeting. The ceremony started with the children choir of Farah Primary School, singing for peace and security, “Rahma” a Theatrical play act, writer Emad Jassim, director Dr. Jabbar Khamat, with performance of the prominent Iraqi actress, Ms. Samar Mohamed. The play revealed the suffering of an Iraqi woman socially and victimized by forced displacement. The play was followed by two live witness statements from two displaced widows who’s husbands were killed during the past two years, they told stories of their difficult living conditions.
AlAmal Youth group with Farah school choir, backed up by Rafidain Melodies folkloric musical group, playing and singing on harmonious Santur and Joza (both folkloric musical instruments), gave a passionate performance of the song of hope “ Let’s build our country together”.
The programme finale was a documentary “Poor, but only…” directed by Bassim Jihad, the film documented the project activities, and reflected the humanitarian crisis and daily sufferings and challenges of Iraqi families living in survey targeted areas, totally deprived of simple and basic public services.
The meeting reflected outstanding efforts to achieve goals of civil society in Iraq in partnership with local community, NGOs, and governmental institutions, focusing on youth capacity to take part and mobilize future economical and social change in the future, emphasizing on citizenship and potential to interact and finding solutions.
