Once an Arab model, Baghdad becomes worse City
Baghdad: As recently as the 1970s, Baghdad was hailed as a model city in the Arab world. But now, after decades of seemingly endless conflict, is worst city in the world. In other words, according to the latest survey by the Mercer consulting group, to assess the quality of life in 239 cities, measuring factors including political stability, crime and pollution, placed Baghdad last. The Iraqi capital has been grouped with Bangui in the Central African Republic and conflict hit the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, the latest confirmation of the fall of 1250 years old city of grace as a global intellectual, economic and political center.
Baghdad residents contend with almost daily attacks, a lack of electricity and drinking water, poor sewage and drainage systems, rampant corruption, regular impasse, high unemployment and a myriad other problems. "We live in military barracks," complained Hamid Al-Daraji, a paper salesman, referring to the ubiquitous checkpoints, explosion-proof concrete walls and security forces peppered throughout the city. "The rich and the poor share the same pain, "the 48-year-old continued. The rich may be submitted at any time to an explosion, kidnapping or murder, as the poor. Our lives are when we are facing death at any time. "
This was not always so for the Iraqi capital. The construction of the city on the Tigris River began in 762 AD under the Abbasid Caliph Abu Jaafar reign of Al-Mansur, and he played a role central in the Arab and Islamic society since. in the 20th century, Baghdad was presented as a shining example of a modern Arab city with some of the best universities and museums in the region, a highly skilled elite, a vibrant cultural scene and up health range. officials still note how their counterparts in the region would hold up Baghdad International airport as a model, and oil cartel OPEC was founded in Baghdad.
and he was home to a diverse population of Muslims, Christians, Jews and others. "Baghdad represented the Abbasid state economic center," noted Issam al-Faili, a professor of political history at Mustansiriyah University of the city, an institution that traces its own history back nearly 800 years. "It was used as a base for the neighboring regions takeover to strengthen Islamic influence." "It was a capital of the world," Faili said, "but today it has become one of the cities the poor of the world. "
in February 2014 alone, 57 violent incidents hit the Iraqi capital, including 31 car bombs. as recently as March 5, a dozen shootings and bombings across the city killed 20 people. the next day, four other bombings left 11 people dead. security forces usually respond with brutal tactics that depend on the development of new control points to add to the plethora already scattered around Baghdad and limiting the movement as much as possible. "I'm hurt that Baghdad ranked among the worst cities in the world," said Amir Al-Chalabi, head of the humanitarian Organisation Construction, an NGO that conducts civic campaigns to improve city services. "Successive governments have not worked to develop Baghdad," he said. "
Class : Muslim World News
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