Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05BAGHDAD4798, COPING WITH LIFE AND SHORTAGES IN IRAQ

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05BAGHDAD4798.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05BAGHDAD4798 2005-12-01 11:44 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Baghdad
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 004798 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ECON ELAB ENRG EPET SMIG SOCI PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: COPING WITH LIFE AND SHORTAGES IN IRAQ 
 
REF: A. BAGHDAD 4041 
     B. BAGHDAD 4484 
     C. BAGHDAD 4553 
     D. BAGHDAD 3989 
     E. BAGHDAD 3450 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Iraq's current economic conditions are 
adverse for many.  While emigration, whether permanent or 
temporary, is available to a relatively small number, 
ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE INDICATES those who leave are often among 
Iraq's best and brightest.  Average families have developed a 
complex dance encompassing barter, the sale of personal 
assets, black market activity, emigration, and reliance on 
the intertwined tribal/religious/family connections to cope. 
END SUMMARY 
 
----- 
FOOD 
----- 
 
2. (SBU) Each Iraqi family is entitled to receive food 
staples from the Ministry of Trade through the Public 
Distribution System (PDS) to meet their basic needs based on 
family size (ref A).  These food rations, however, do not 
reach every family and, in most cases, do not provide 
sufficient supplies for the most needy citizens.  Of 3,500 
households questioned by the World Food Program in a survey 
released in 2004, roughly 52% of households responded that in 
the course of a month, they sometimes did not have food to 
eat and did not have money to buy food.  Roughly 50% 
explained that their income had declined, while others blamed 
rising prices and shortcomings in the PDS for the food 
difficulties. 
 
---- 
JOBS 
---- 
 
3. (SBU) Lack of economic opportunity, especially productive 
employment, rather than a lack of available food, is the 
primary reason for food insecurity.  A reasonable estimate 
for unemployment pegs it at approximately 30%. 
Underemployment is assumed to be much higher, but no data is 
available (ref E).  Coping strategies range from the easy to 
the extreme.  Borrowing money to pay for food is a relatively 
common expedient.  Some 35% of families seek help through 
Islamic charity.  More serious is shifting money from health 
care and education to purchase food.  Greater still is the 
selling off of assets.  Criminal activity to feed one's 
family is the absolute final resort, according to respondents 
in the WFP survey. 
 
4. (SBU) Most extreme is the liquidation of valuable assets, 
such as draft cattle, dowries, and land rights.  According to 
representatives of the Food for Peace/USAID office, a village 
on the Basrah-ThiQar border had very little food during the 
first nine months of 2005, as village wheat stocks had 
spoiled because of poor storage techniques.  As a 
consequence, there were few animals in the village -- they 
had been sold to buy food.  Pressed to the breaking point, 
the villagers are reportedly selling off their water buffalo 
-- the family tractor in the marsh areas -- to pay for food. 
 
----- 
FUELS 
----- 
 
5. (SBU) Supplies of fuel for cars, generators, cooking, and 
heating are increasingly irregular and currently scarce in 
much of Iraq (refs B and C).  This has led to a large black 
market in fuel.  People obtain gasoline by either sitting in 
long fuel lines and paying at the pump, or buying it from 
someone who sits in fuel lines for a living.  For example, 
there are reports of old cars that have been turned into 
mobile gas tanks: people add extra tanks to their cars, then 
purchase fuel at low, controlled prices (between $.05 and 
$.13 per gallon), then resell the fuel for a profit to their 
neighbors who have a job and cannot wait a day or two in the 
gas line. 
 
6. (SBU) Coupons to distribute critical cooking and heating 
fuel across the country (ref D) during the winter months are 
freely transferable for the first time in 2005.  This 
innovation has evolved into a thriving free market, where 
both the coupons and filled fuel canisters are sold to the 
highest bidders.  The richest families have plenty of fuel, 
and the poorest sell their fuel for a profit to purchase 
other items -- a thriving bit of economic trade and barter. 
 
----------- 
ELECTRICITY 
----------- 
 
7. (SBU) Despite improvements in generation, electricity 
remains an on-again, off-again essential service in Iraq.  In 
most cities, electricity is on about half the time, on a 
rotational cycle of several hours on, and several off. 
Iraqis have developed multiple ways of coping with the 
constant power interruptions.  For example, local 
entrepreneurs have purchased large neighborhood generators; 
households can then purchase a certain amount of amps of 
power from the operator when grid power goes off.  A normal 
bill for this service is $30-75 per month for about 7-10 amps 
of alternative power, sufficient to run a household when the 
national grid if off. 
8. (SBU) Families that can afford a generator themselves have 
small generators of about 1500 KW -- sufficient to keep the 
lights on and the TV/DVD player working when the neighborhood 
generators and the grid are off.  Minister of Electricity 
Shalash has estimated that there are 10,000 of the large 
neighborhood generators in Baghdad, and Minister of Oil 
al-'Ulum, whose ministry tracks gasoline and diesel 
consumption, has estimated there are between 750,000 and 1 
million small household generators.  Acquiring fuel for the 
generators, as well as for cooking and heating, has become an 
art.  Because of the uncertainty in supply, hoarding is 
widespread.  We note, for example, that a recent delivery of 
kerosene to Baghdad did not appreciably raise available 
stocks.  We presume that increased household purchases for 
the purpose of hoarding have hindered the ability of fuel 
authorities to get ahead of spotty deliveries.  If/when the 
GOI reduces its subsidy for these fuels to something close to 
regional prices running generators will be increasingly 
expensive and the number of people without electricity will 
increase. 
 
------- 
HOUSING 
------- 
 
9. (SBU) Due to the low individual economic viability, 
particularly among young, male adults, the nuclear family 
stays together in Iraq for an extended period of time. 
Unemployment among younger males is very high so many young, 
adult males remain in their parents' homes, unable to earn a 
living or support a family.  Young women remain at home, as 
is usual in the Muslim world, until they are married.  This 
phenomenon, coupled with a high birth rate, means that there 
are a greater number than normal of quite large households. 
(NOTE: The size of the average Iraqi household is 6.  Among 
the poor, it rise to 7.  END NOTE.) 
 
--------------------------- 
TRIBAL AND ISLAMIC NETWORKS 
--------------------------- 
 
10. (SBU) Tribal support networks and Islamic custom, both 
quite prevalent in Iraq, require each person to share either 
at least 2.5% of any wealth they have held for one Islamic 
year or 3.5 oz. of gold with the needy.  This tithe is given 
to the tribal leadership or, in urban settings, to the imam 
at the local mosque.  The donation may be in cash, staples or 
clothing.  This local charity system, known as "Zakat", helps 
to support those at the lowest end of the economic spectrum. 
 
---------- 
EMIGRATION 
---------- 
 
11. (SBU) Some find moving abroad until opportunities in Iraq 
improve the most attractive option to adverse economic 
conditions.  Neighboring countries, including Jordan, Egypt 
and Saudi Arabia, are hosting large numbers of Iraqi 
citizens.  We believe that there are thousands of Iraqis 
"parked" in neighboring countries waiting for better 
conditions before they return.  Furthermore, many 
multinational companies who maintain regional headquarters in 
Dubai, Cairo or Amman have recruited a large number of young 
Iraqi technocrats -- at international salaries -- and are 
training abroad to be ready for future, stable conditions in 
Iraq.  The remittances these young Iraqis send home help to 
keep their unemployed and needy family members afloat. 
 
12. (SBU) COMMENT: The drawdown of family capital and 
emigration, in particular, will make Iraq's economic recovery 
more difficult.  They point to the urgency of establishing 
conditions to reverse emigration and capital flight as well 
as secure economic growth.  One can and should admire the 
resilience of many Iraqi families but, for most, coping 
mechanisms come with a price -- often impacting on future 
economic prospects.  END COMMENT. 
KHALILZAD