Iraq: the coronavirus, a crisis which is added to other crises

Text by: Murielle Paradon Follow

In Iraq, the number of cases of Covid-19 remains limited as in many countries of the Middle East. But the economic consequences of this health crisis already look catastrophic in an already fragile country.

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Iraq has so far recorded 3,877 cases of Covid-19 contamination and 140 deaths, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. Even if the UN estimates that these figures could be underestimated, notably due to the limited number of tests in this country of 40 million inhabitants, "  the authorities have handled the crisis rather well  ," said Caroline Séguin, in charge of Middle East within Doctors Without Borders. Measures were taken very quickly but the worst may still be to come, "  with the relaxation of these measures and the various challenges which the new government must face: a serious economic crisis and a resurgence of violence in the country  ".

First cases and first measures

February 24 - First official case of coronavirus confirmed in Nadjaf, the holy Shiite city located 160 km south of Baghdad. He is an Iranian student. Iraq closed its border with Iran , the first country hit in the Middle East by Covid-19, a few days earlier .

February 27 - Schools, universities and cinemas close in Baghdad. Other events such as religious gatherings are prohibited.

March 4 - First death in Iraq from Covid-19, a 70-year-old imam from Kurdistan. The number of cases is increasing, gradually reaching the 18 governorates of Iraq.

March 13 - Beginning of curfew in Kurdistan. The Kurdish autonomous government in northern Iraq has decreed a temporary curfew, reinforced in early April after the explosion of contaminations probably due to two funeral ceremonies.

Meanwhile, violence continues

The Iraqi authorities must face the appearance of the Covid-19 but must also manage the violence that continues.

March 11 - Two Americans and a Briton are killed by rocket fire at the Taji military base, north of Baghdad. Two days later , the United States carried out reprisals on air strikes at several sites in southern Iraq, notably targeting arms depots of Kataeb Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian militia believed to be responsible for the attack. But five members of the Iraqi forces and a civilian are killed, according to the Iraqi army which condemns the American air strikes.

March 20 - The anti-jihadist coalition led by the United States announces the withdrawal of certain troops because of the coronavirus. Training exercises are no longer possible. The British and French announced their withdrawal in the days that followed.

March 22 - General curfew in the country after the announcement of the death of 20 people and 233 contaminations. The curfew was already in place in some places, but it is being extended across the country. Travel is prohibited. Schools, universities and airports are closing.

The media in the hot seat

April 14 -  In Baghdad, the Reuters news agency is revoked its license in the country for 3 months, for having affirmed that the number of cases was greater than the official figures. The agency must also be freed from a fine.
In Iraqi Kurdistan, at least 4 journalists are arrested in April, according to Reporters Without Borders. They are accused by the autonomous government of spreading false information. They criticized the authorities' handling of the crisis.

May 2 - ISIS regains strength. The Islamic State organization had announced that it wanted to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to increase the attacks. On May 2, ten paramilitary fighters integrated into the Iraqi regular forces were killed by IS jihadists north of Baghdad, according to Iraqi troops, who have recorded their heaviest losses in months.

May 6 - Three rockets are fired at the Baghdad airport area, stopped because of the Covid-19. These are the first shots aimed at this area since the American drone attack which killed in January the powerful Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and the Iraqi Abu Mehdi al-Mouhandis , deputy head of the dominated forces Hachd al-Chaabi by pro-Iranian paramilitaries and now integrated into the Iraqi army.

A new Iraqi government and multiple challenges

May 7 - After five months of vacancy in power, Iraq finally adopts a new government. In front of masked and gloved deputies due to the coronavirus, Prime Minister Moustafa al-Kazimi , a 53-year-old former intelligence chief, is sworn in with 15 ministers, even if several key positions such as those of Foreign Affairs and Oil are not not provided.

The new government faces three major challenges:
→ Combating the coronavirus. Even if the human toll remains moderate, compared to other countries, some are worried about a resurgence of the epidemic. Confinement is not always strictly observed. Caroline Séguin, head of the Middle East program at MSF, fears "  a loosening  " of the measures during Ramadan. She said cases increased in early May in Baghdad.

→ Disastrous economic consequences: the country, already on its knees economically, sees its oil revenues divided by five, following the coronavirus crisis, while black gold is one of the main sources of income for Iraq, the 2nd producer country of OPEC. The government must also face massive unemployment, aggravated by the confinement of the population. He will have to find solutions, risking popular anger again.

→ A resurgence of violence: According to Myriam Benraad , political scientist, specialist in Iraq, the 3rd challenge that the government will have to tackle will be to "curb violence on the ground with the resumption of jihadist attacks and especially of the Shiite militias which are become largely out of control ”.

May 10 - Resumption of social protest. Small demonstrations punctuated by brief clashes with the police took place in several cities in Iraq, including Baghdad. The protesters want to send  a message  to the new government so that their demands are taken into account. Young Iraqis had launched a large-scale protest movement on October 1, 2019 to demand an end to corruption, decent jobs and decent public services, a bloody repression with more than 550 dead.

The appearance of the coronavirus put this protest movement to sleep, but for Myriam Benraad "  this does not mean that the social anger has disappeared  ".

Our selection on the coronavirus

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• Our  explanations  :
→  What we know about the mode of contagion
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→  Triple therapy, Discovery… update on research
→  The race for the vaccine is in full swing
→  How to make a mask and use it well

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→  Birth of a pandemic
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