Iraqi Reconstruction Alliance chief backs new steps for wounded, war victims

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, head of Iraq's Reconstruction and Development Alliance, met on Wednesday with representatives of the wounded and war victims' body to address administrative and legal obstacles facing those groups, the alliance said. Lawmakers Talib al-Azzami and Yasir Iskander of the alliance also attended the meeting. According to a statement, al-Sudani endorsed proposals including the establishment of a national institution for the wounded built on a unified central database, and creation of a high-level central commission to oversee the distribution of serviced residential land plots. He also said coordination would be carried out with the Ministry of Health to set specific days for medical examinations of the wounded. The commission is to manage land allocation needs for the wounded in Baghdad and other cities, the statement said. Al-Sudani said Iraq's stability rests on the sacrifices of this segment and that the state will stand with them directly, without intermediaries. Alliance lawmakers pledged to keep the file among their top priorities and to maintain coordination with executive bodies. No further details on the timeline or structure of the proposed commission were immediately available.