Floods and Foreseeable Neglect

Hastiar Ebrahim Smail – Activists

From Chamchamal to Erbil and Baghdad, the recent floods have once again revealed the entrenched corruption and administrative failure that characterise governance in this country. Rainfall is naturally expected to replenish the land; however, in Kurdistan it has become the trigger for man-made disasters. The authorities—habitually indifferent and unprepared—continue to operate without any form of strategic planning for natural crises or for the long-term wellbeing of the population.

Instead of protecting citizens from calamity, the government’s negligence places them directly in harm’s way. It has become common for residents to say, as soon as the rainy season begins, “The flood has reached my home.” In reality, this expression reflects a deeper truth: the flood did not approach the people—rather, the people were forced into the path of the flood due to the reckless expansion of roads, neighbourhoods, and residential areas in violation of environmental and safety principles.

In recent years, this region has suffered repeated large-scale crises caused by the collapse of proper planning, the failure of specialised ministries, and the appointment of unqualified officials. In pursuit of rapid financial gain, authorities have effectively auctioned off the master plan of cities and districts to private companies and even to individual investors. Urban land has been sold for short-term profit, with no regard for structural integrity, environmental security, or public welfare. The results of these decisions were clearly visible in Chamchamal.

Despite the current cabinet’s consistent underperformance, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has persistently promoted his administration as one focused on “development.” Yet the reality has been the opposite: widespread destruction of public economic foundations, increased financial hardship for families, and a record number of crises occurring during his tenure.

Many of these catastrophes stem directly from the arbitrary diversion of waterways, chaotic urban expansion, and the deliberate seizure of commercially valuable land by officials from both ruling parties. The consequences have become unavoidable.

Ultimately, the primary responsibility for what has happened rests with Masrour Barzani and his administration. No effective governance or crisis-response mechanism exists within this expired cabinet, leaving citizens exposed and unprotected whenever natural events occur. Until a principled form of governance is established—one grounded in accountability, planning, and public service—the population will continue to face preventable disasters.