Iraqi lawyer warns compensation cases for war, terror victims delayed by bureaucracy

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A legal expert in Iraq said compensation files for citizens affected by war, terrorism and natural disasters remain among the most complex cases because their legal, administrative and financial dimensions overlap. Lawyer Ali Habib said the process includes receiving claims from affected individuals, reviewing documents, conducting field assessments, and referring files to the relevant departments for payment based on available budget allocations. Habib said the steps, though legally necessary, often turn into a long bureaucratic chain that delays compensation from reaching those entitled to it. He cited limited financial allocations against a high volume of claims, administrative bureaucracy, multiple agencies handling the cases, lengthy audit periods and the need to continuously verify documentation as the main causes of the delay. The delays, Habib added, directly prevent affected families from rebuilding their homes and restoring their livelihoods, slowing the return of stability in affected areas. He recommended simplifying administrative procedures, adopting electronic systems, increasing financial allocations and resolving claims within binding timelines. Compensation cases for victims of war, counter-terrorism operations and natural disasters have for years been processed in Iraq through commission decisions and allocations transferred from the general budget.