Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Baghdad (Agenzia Fides) - The mayor of Baghdad, Abub Naim al-Kaabi, has made known his intention to distribute building land and houses built according to the plans of public housing also for the benefit of Christians in the city which belong to the poorer segments of the population. The initiative, anticipated by the mayor in the local media, according to sources close to the Chaldean Patriarchate consulted by Fides Agency, is politically sponsored by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the Shiite destined to be confirmed as prime minister by the Parliamentary Assembly expressed by the election on April 30. "We", said al-Maliki, "will give the keys of prefabricated houses to the citizens without any discrimination".
The housing crisis is one of the causes that lead many young Christian families to emigrate from Iraq. In recent months, the Chaldean Patriarchate has taken steps to distribute dozens of apartments, obtained from the renovation of the former Patriarchal Seminary, to needy families in Baghdad. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 05/05/2014)
