Diwaniyah governor says all city projects halted over funding crisis

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The governor of Diwaniyah, Abbas Zamili, said all ongoing projects in the city have been brought to a halt because of a financial crisis, warning that the local administration is operating in conditions he described as "between life and death." Zamili said at least 500 billion Iraqi dinars in financing is needed this year to revive the suspended projects. He noted that several of them were more than 90 percent complete before work stopped due to budget cuts. Projects affected include the Australian Hospital, the Sinbule Sports Stadium, housing complexes belonging to the Ministry of Construction and Housing, sewage infrastructure, bridges and ministry buildings. Zamili added that regional development projects would also stall if funding is not provided, and that 70 billion dinars is required to complete health-sector schemes, warning that insufficient allocations would disrupt the supply of medical equipment. According to the latest report from Iraq's Central Statistical Organization, Diwaniyah has a poverty rate of 28.9 percent, making it the country's third-poorest province.