Baghdad / NINA / - The Ministry of Planning responded, today, Sunday, to a report by the World Food Program, noting that Iraq is not hungry.

The ministry said in a statement: "The media and social media have circulated, during the past two days, a report attributed to the World Food Program at the United Nations, which talks about Iraq being one of the seven most hungry countries in the world, and that a third of the Iraqi people sleep hungry, putting Iraq in addition to very poor countries, such as Somalia, Madagascar, Congo and others.

It added: "Iraq did not face a food crisis that could cause a threat of hunger to the vulnerable groups in society, even during the height of the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, in which many countries witnessed food crises, due to government measures that contributed to the provision of foodstuffs, whether locally produced or imported, in addition to social solidarity, "noting that "the government has taken a number of measures that included supporting the social protection network, securing ration card materials, and distributing an emergency financial grant to those affected by the pandemic, with the aim of helping them face emergency conditions."

The ministry stressed: "The talk that a third of Iraqis are hungry is contrary to reality," noting: "The percentage of food fragility in Iraq is less than 2% of the total population, and this percentage increased after the waves of displacement in 2014."

The Ministry of Planning explained: "The poverty rate rose in 2020 to 31%, and this does not mean that this percentage represents the hungry population at all, but this falls within the framework of what is known as "multi-dimensional poverty", which includes health, education, housing, and income, as the percentage increased as a result of Corona pandemic and its economic repercussions.

It pointed out: "The total percentage of families that receive the ration card is 95%, and the approved indicators are extracted from statistical surveys carried out by the Central Bureau of Statistics in accordance with international standards approved by the United Nations."

It pointed out that: "Accordingly, the indicators referred to in the report attributed to the World Food Program are unrealistic, and are not based on the indicators adopted by the Ministry of Planning, as it is not possible in any way to compare the food and living situation of the Iraqi people with countries that are already suffering from severe famine. ”, emphasizing: “Iraq is not hungry.”/ End




ليصلك المزيد من الأخبار اشترك بقناتنا على التليغرام