To throw in the consensus pot:
An excerpt from CNN:
High unemployment
While Iraq's unemployment figures were high, the survey found that most eligible workers -- excluding the military -- were able to keep the jobs they had held since before March 2003.
Iraq's unemployment rate was 10.5 percent of a population of 27 million people, the report found. When the figure of workers who had
given up looking for a job -- discouraged workers -- was included, the unemployment number increased to 18.4 percent.
Most of the unemployed were people who were looking for their first jobs, the report found.
De Mistura, the
U.N. representative, said Iraqis have done well to maintain services, but he said delivery of utilities such as water, sewage, sanitation and electricity hasn't been consistent.
"Although
a large percentage of the population in Iraq is connected to water, electricity and sewage networks, the supply is too unstable to make a difference to their lives," he said in a news release.
According to the survey,
98 percent of Iraqi households are connected to the national electricity grid, but only 15 percent find the supply stable.
As for water availability, the figures were
78 percent (had water) and 66 percent (had problems).
Household income falls
More than a fourth of Iraqis surveyed described themselves as being poor and
96 percent said they receive monthly food rations under the public food system set up through the oil-for-food program.
The median income in Iraq was equivalent to about
$255 (366,000 dinars) in 2003 and decreased in the first half of 2004 to about $144 (207,000 dinars).
The report indicated it was difficult to come up with concrete numbers from prior years to indicate the movement of wages.
"However, most observers agree that, due to a combination of wars, sanctions and economic mismanagement, the average Iraqi household probably has lower real income today than in 1980," the report said.
The survey said the largest declines were in the central Iraqi provinces, including Baghdad.
In terms of poverty, the survey looked at subjective measures. About
one in six respondents to the survey said they were unable to buy one of six items listed (new clothes, heating, etc.)
De Mistura said the survey should help the Iraqi government develop a plan to improve living conditions.
-------------
So, definitely requires continuing effort--but, obviously not as bad as the man in the article claimed.
You really should check facts, you know.
The name of the article is Grim picture in Iraq, or something--and it is grim--but it is not nearly as grim as Edgar's article, and it is improving.
Iraq stats. CNN.
