Southern city residents say flour
missing from food rations
By Bassem
al-Rikabi
Azzaman,
May 31, 2005
Many
residents in the southern city of
The
residents said they had not received their allocations of flour for two months.
Millions
of Iraqis rely on rations of flour along with other staples such as rice and
legumes for a living.
Since 1990
Iraqis have relied on government food rations handed out every month at almost
giveaway prices.
“Flour has
become a real problem as we cannot afford getting it on the spot market,” said
Alwan Dagheel.
“The issue
must be solved immediately as we cannot do without flour rations,” he added.
Many
Iraqis say the distribution of food rations is not as efficient as it was under
the former regime of Saddam Hussein.
They say
they are getting less food than before and the quality of food items has been
deteriorating.
“We have
the right to know the reason why flour is not being distributed … low-income
families like mine are suffering because only a few have money to buy from the
spot market,” said Hasniya Ali.
Mahdi
Jaleel said Iraqis were hoping the removal of Saddam Hussein would bring
prosperity and increase access to food.
“Our hopes
have been dashed. We expected conditions to improve but they have worsened,”
said Mahdi Jaleel.
