Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi led the meeting on Thursday, saying that his government is working to achieve the “rightful demands of protesters.”
The government promised action on a series of infrastructure projects including: providing funds for the completion and rehabilitation of two bridges, and completion of two road projects; immediate completion of the Islah Water project; funding for sewer and water projects; and speeding up construction of schools.
Regarding chronic electricity shortages, Abadi said the Dhi Qar province’s share of the national electricity supply would be boosted based on the population and the Ministry of Electricity would provide mobile electricity stations “as soon as possible” to supplement supply.
The industry ministry will prepare a detailed plan to re-open closed factories in the province in order to “provide thousands of opportunities for sustainable jobs."
The government will also release additional funds for health care and will investigate easing loan repayment schemes for farmers who have weather-related losses.
Abadi added they will also ensure equitable sharing of water from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and will pay the province’s petrodollar share.
In order to streamline concerns and responses, Dhi Qar’s governor will name a provincial crisis cell that will be in continuous communication with the national crisis cell, according to the statement from Abadi’s office.
Protesters angry about lack of jobs, poor services, and government corruption have taken to the streets in at least eight of Iraq’s provinces.
Several protesters and security forces have been injured in Dhi Qar’s capital of Nasiriyah.
A tribal leader in the province told Rudaw earlier this week that the government is not serious in meeting the protesters’ demands.
Abadi convened the first meeting of his crisis cell formed to respond to the protests on Wednesday. His government is struggling to meet the demands that stem from years of neglect and corruption.
In Basra, where the protests started over a week and a half ago, 60,000 people applied for 10,000 new jobs.
The United Nations has given its support for the steps Abadi has taken.
Jan Kubis, head of the UN mission in Iraq (UNAMI), met with Abadi on Thursday and "praised" the government's response to the protesters' demands, Abadi's office stated.
Kubis also met with Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Thursday. He stressed that solving the crisis will require the both local and the central government working together “to meet the immediate legitimate demands of the people & take first reform steps on issues & measures that would require longer time.”
