Chaos and Neglect Hinder Recovery in Iraqi City, Reports Reuters

By John Davison

MOSUL, Iraq – The demolition of a dilapidated building in Mosul, where the Islamic State (IS) once executed individuals accused of being gay, is now into its third month. Homeless boys scavenging for scrap amidst the ruins of the former National Insurance Company building often work more swiftly than the single excavator operating on the site.

Two years after Iraqi forces recaptured Mosul from IS, the local authorities still lack sufficient equipment to clear the debris scattered throughout the city. Many of the council’s vehicles were destroyed during the conflict or repurposed by IS as suicide bombs, and few have been replaced since.

Contractors hired by the governor to undertake the cleanup often work slowly, with some even failing to exist, according to local residents and lawmakers. Mosul was under IS control for three years, during which time the militant group enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law, declaring homosexuality a sin punishable by death. However, human rights activists assert that many executed at the seven-story insurance building—now left in ruins—were actually IS opponents falsely accused of immoral behavior.

At the demolition site, the rented excavator costs $300 a day but frequently remains idle. The regional governor refutes claims of corruption, arguing that insufficient funding is available for reconstruction efforts.

Many families in Mosul are facing financial hardship. Some have resorted to building their own homes, often going into debt or relying on charity, while others struggle to afford increasingly expensive rental properties. Delays plague foreign-funded projects as well.

"There’s no strategic plan. It’s chaos," lamented local lawmaker Mohamed Nuri Abed Rabbo. Poor planning has led to mismanagement of reconstruction efforts and alleged corruption, hindering recovery. Residents fear that IS remnants may exploit the prevailing discontent.

"The city’s being rebuilt only on paper," stated Abu Ali Neshwan, a shopkeeper. "There’s no state here. Corruption is everywhere."

Abdelsattar al-Hibbu, responsible for the local municipal government, claimed the limited funds being allocated for Mosul are not being spent effectively. He asserted that if the money spent on debris removal were managed better, the city could have been cleared by now. Of an estimated 7 million tonnes of rubble, more than half still remains.

The state budget for 2019 set aside $560 million for Mosul’s reconstruction, although a local U.N. advisor estimated that a year of rebuilding work could cost around $1.8 billion. The advisor pointed out the irony that most of the reconstruction efforts are funded by international organizations, given Iraq’s significant oil wealth. He criticized the local authorities for overspending and the slow pace of work, stating that demolishing a large building should be a relatively quick and inexpensive process.

Nawfal Hammadi al-Sultan, the governor of Nineveh province, dismissed allegations of mismanagement and inefficiency. He suggested that while some neighborhoods are profoundly destroyed, not all areas are beyond hope and questioned why residents are in such a rush for reconstruction.

The cleanup operation appears disorganized. Children outnumber the paid workers and collect metal for scrap, while local residents resort to buying wheelbarrows to carry out their own repairs.

Some families have taken it upon themselves to rebuild; Younes Hassan, a 67-year-old man, borrowed $9,000 to reconstruct his home overlooking the Tigris River. "We’ve borrowed everything—there’s no money from the government, and certainly no bank loans," he said.

Moves to reform banking policies in Mosul remain stalled, with authorities restricting transfers due to concerns about funding extremists. Many families are returning to west Mosul, which suffered significant damage during the conflict.

Nearly 2 million Iraqis are still displaced as a result of the fight against IS, according to a non-governmental organization’s survey. Many feel unprepared to return home because of the devastation and lack of basic services.

Residents are increasingly anxious that delays in restoring Mosul will create conditions conducive to a resurgence of groups like IS. The issues that allowed IS to seize control of the city in 2014—corruption and government neglect of Sunni communities—remain unresolved.

A local policeman expressed concern for the children rummaging through debris, fearing they could become the next generation to join IS. "It thrives on corruption and chaos," he noted.