Meltdown Hits Hard Iraq's Reconstruction

But the promises were never translated into actions.

"We don't have proper clean water and power," Jubair, a resident at Baghdad's Al-Sadr district, told IslamOnline.net.

"Even our monthly food ration had its quality diminished to cut expenses, however, the money left was never used in function of the population.

"There aren't jobs, many are still displaced and there isn't one Iraqi who saw a reconstruction project ended," he said.

Jubair said the government always finds excuses not to fulfill its promises of completing reconstruction projects in the war-torn country.

"Since the invasion they are promising to improve our living condition," he said.

"It is time for us to urge for our rights. If we don't go to streets and force the government to look after us, they will always keep searching for their own benefits."

Despite improving security conditions, Iraq's reconstruction process has hit a stalemate.

Iraqi officials blame the global financial meltdown and dwindling investments for the slowing reconstruction process.

"We cannot blame alone the international crisis for the low investments in projects for reconstruction, especially those related to basic services," said Leith Abdel-Azize, a senior official in the Ministry of Reconstruction.

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