Iraq needs to build 3-4 million houses to tackle crowding caused by illegal accommodation and the destruction of many homes during the war, the local press reported on Wednesday. 

At least six million people are dwelling in unlawful houses built during the war in Baghdad and other Iraqi Governorates and they cannot afford houses built by investors awarded contracts by the government, newspapers said, quoting a statement by the Parliament’s Services Commission. 

“There is a need to tackle this persistent problem...it cannot be tackled by houses constructed by investors because they are costly.... a study by the Planning Ministry has found that between 3-4 million houses are needed to resolve that problem,” it said. 

The statement said the government needs to construct “low-cost” houses separated from town projects awarded to private developers and investors. 

(Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon)

(anoop.menon@refinitiv.com)

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