The Economic Crisis and the Illusion of Charity.
Shallaw Mohammed Mamand/ Activist
Recently, Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, announced the donation of one million loaves of bread to the people of South Kurdistan. While this gesture may seem generous, the people of South Kurdistan are now more aware than ever of the deeper reality—understanding who is truly responsible for the economic hardship that makes such charity necessary in the first place.
It is undeniable that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), along with the ruling Barzani and Talabani families, are the primary architects of the region’s current economic struggles. These parties have failed to implement any real solutions to improve living conditions, leaving job opportunities scarce, particularly in small towns and villages where incomes are already low. Meanwhile, salaried employees face even greater difficulties, with wages being distributed only once every 40 to 45 days.
This deliberate economic suffocation appears to be a calculated policy by the ruling parties—a strategy designed to keep the population too preoccupied with survival to rise against corruption and the mismanagement of public resources. It aligns with the political theory that states: “Starve your dog so he will follow you better.” By ensuring that people remain desperate for the most basic necessities, the ruling elite effectively suppress demands for social justice and accountability.
Today, society is trapped in an endless cycle of trying to secure the fundamentals of life, leaving little room for resistance. However, it is the duty of intellectuals and the educated class to expose and challenge this dangerous strategy. People must not be distracted by token gestures of charity that serve only to mask deep-rooted corruption, systemic looting, and social injustice. As the renowned Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani once said:
“They steal your bread, then they give you a piece of it and ask you to thank them for their generosity.”
