Residents in southern Iraq’s Dhi Qar governorate staged peaceful protests on Sunday. The demonstrators gathered in several areas, demanding better access to electricity, clean drinking water, and essential public services. These demands come amid ongoing infrastructure failures and rising summer temperatures.
Two separate protests took place in Suq al-Shuyukh district. One group consisted of residents from the right bank of the Euphrates River. The other came from the Akeeka subdistrict. Protesters claimed they often receive less power than scheduled. They blamed the crisis on aging infrastructure and a shortage of repair crews.
Ali Mohammed, a protester from Hajjam on the right bank, said, “We suffer from a severe shortage of electricity due to worn-out network wires.” He added, “We have no political affiliations. We only demand electricity for our areas.”
Like many parts of southern Iraq, Dhi Qar faces chronic electricity shortages. Furthermore, transmission lines are deteriorating, repair capacity remains low, and the intense summer heat adds extra strain.
Moreover, Mohammed emphasized, “We agree to the official supply schedule, but we don’t get our full share.” He explained that residents feel exhausted by constant outages. Therefore, he insisted, “We want fair treatment in electricity distribution.”
In Hussainiya, protester Haidar al-Nashi urged officials to follow the standard 4-on, 2-off electricity rotation. He also called for dedicated repair teams in the most burdened neighborhoods. “These areas are densely populated and heavily loaded, causing pressure on the network,” he explained. Al-Nashi demanded the government stop dumping sewage into the Euphrates River, citing increased illness rates, including kidney failure.
Further south in Jamamla, resident Hassan Kazem shared similar concerns. He said his community and nearby Shidoud suffer ongoing neglect. “The Ghaliwain power line remains incomplete and often breaks down,” Kazem said. “This situation burdens both residents and maintenance teams.”
Kazem added that his area lacks piped drinking water and basic road infrastructure. “We want to be treated like neighboring regions,” he said firmly. He also requested a comprehensive plan to dredge main and side canals in the region.
Clearly, residents demand better electricity and essential services to cope with harsh conditions. Their peaceful protests send a strong message to authorities: it’s time for urgent action on infrastructure and fairness in service delivery.
