The proposed strategy hinges upon the concept of ‘development corridors’ at the regional level to stimulate sustainable socio-economic growth and facilitate the movement of millions of pilgrims and visitors, particularly during religious events.
The EU Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Patrick Simonnet, said:
“We welcome very much this timely initiative. Against the current backdrop of stabilization, we need to reconcile some in-country migration currents. There is now an opportunity to recalibrate urban planning and align it with the realities on the ground, making it durable on the one hand, and prone to investment on the other. It is more so relevant for these two governorates, adding a touch of ‘spiritual' to the ‘spatial'."
UNDP Assistant Country Director for Iraq, Mr. Ali Kamouna, said:
“Both Karbala and Najaf have seen the convergence of two overlapping immigration flows, one of people fleeing the insecure areas of conflict, and the other one of farmers leaving the rural hinterland to seek better opportunities in the city. Developing sustainable urban strategies is critical for these Governorates.”
Participants identified two critical challenges facing the Iraqi authorities: enhancing the available and inter-connectivity of transportation infrastructure and services for pilgrims, and addressing outstanding infrastructure, services, housing, socio-economic needs of the smaller towns that gravitate around the urban poles of Karbala and Kufa.
The next and last LADP Governorate Urban Strategies workshop will be held in October 2017.
(Source: UNDP)
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