Several provinces in Iraq witnessed demonstrations on Wednesday morning, demanding the provision of essential services, including water and electricity. In a new escalation of protests in Dhi Qar province, demonstrators closed the provincial council and its headquarters until their demands are met. In Babil, dozens of residents from the Khamesiya and Al-Ghazali areas protested outside the Babil governorate building, calling for water supply to their areas, which are suffering from unprecedented shortages. The water crisis has forced residents to abandon their areas and has caused a total loss of agricultural and livestock resources in the most important agricultural regions in southern Babil.
The capital, Baghdad, also saw the start of two protests in Tahrir Square and in front of the provincial council building. Dozens of "the terminated and those fleeing from the Ministry of Defense" gathered in Tahrir Square, demanding their reinstatement. In a second protest, dozens of educators and administrative staff congregated near the Baghdad provincial council, calling for a special appointment order for them.
Iraq has been suffering from a chronic electricity shortage for decades, due to sanctions and successive wars, with residents protesting for many years against the frequent power outages, especially during the summer when temperatures sometimes exceed 50 degrees Celsius.
