NASIRIYAH, Iraq — Protests erupted Wednesday in Iraq's
impoverished south over a rise in food prices that officials attributed to the
conflict in Ukraine.
اضافة اعلان
For about a week, the price of cooking oils
and flour have skyrocketed in local markets as government officials have sought
to address growing anger with various statements and measures.
More than 500 protesters gathered in a
central square in the southern city of
Nasiriyah — a flashpoint of
anti-corruption protests that gripped the country in 2019.
"The rise in prices is strangling us,
whether it is bread or other food products," retired teacher Hassan Kazem
said. "We can barely make ends meet."
On Tuesday, the Iraqi government announced
measures to confront the increase in international prices.
These included a monthly allowance of about
$70 for pensioners whose income does not exceed one million dinars (almost
$700), as well as civil servants earning less than 500,000 dinars.
The authorities also announced the
suspension of customs duties on food products, basic consumer goods and
construction materials for two months.
Trade ministry spokesman Mohamed Hanoun
attributed the rise in cooking oil prices to the conflict in
Ukraine.
"There's a major global crisis because
Ukraine has a large share of (the world market in cooking) oils," he said.
On Tuesday, a protester was seriously
injured in a demonstration in the central province of Babil that was marred by
violence, a security source said.
The interior ministry announced it had
arrested 31 people accused of "raising the prices of food commodities and
abusing citizens".
A protester in Nasiriyah on Wednesday
denounced the "greed of traders who manipulate prices".
Both
Russia and Ukraine are major producers
of foodstuffs, including sunflower oil and wheat, and the Middle East is particularly
dependent on imports from the two countries.
Iraq was rocked by nationwide protests in
2019 against rampant corruption, a lack of job opportunities, and poor living
conditions.
More than 600 people were killed and tens of
thousands injured during the demonstrations.
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