Kurdish Fighters Struggle to Pay Bills

Many peshmerga — which literally means "those who confront death" — work second jobs, such as driving cabs or selling goods, in their spare time to supplement an average salary of 500,000 Iraqi dinars ($435) per month, depending on their rank. It is a striking contrast with their reputation as one of the only fighting forces in Iraq capable of taking on IS.

However, Zangana does not always have enough time to work as a driver. In his contract as a peshmerga, it is stated he serve in that role for 15 days, followed by 15 days off. But according to him, these working hours are not always implemented.

"Sometimes [the peshmerga forces] let us stay for 40 days, or even longer. If you are needed at the front line, you stay. It is that simple,’’ he added.

Zangana hasn’t received his salary for the past two months, making it even harder for him to pay the bills, including the rent for his small house in the city of Erbil. Iraqi Kurdistan gained fame in the past decade as a booming region, relatively peaceful, with fast-paced development made possible by oil wealth.

Since IS’ invasion in Iraq, however, the economy has slowed and lots of expats have returned to their home countries, making it hard for locals such as Zangana to gain an extra income.

Therefore, his oldest children, both in their early teens, also work after school hours, making between 10,000 ($8.70) to 12,000 dinars ($10) a day. His wife manages all the money that comes in. According to Zangana, she has a “miraculous way of cutting spending.” He spoke of families that have a harder time managing their finances, left unable to pay the rent and other basic expenses.

Falah Mustafa, the foreign minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, blames the central government for their financial misery. According to him, the Iraqi government in Baghdad had not allotted the finances promised to the KRG after the 2003 invasion for years due to disputes over oil and budgets.