§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of the population in (a) Baghdad; (b) Basra; and (c) the rest of Iraq currently have access to sewage systems which are fully functioning; and what proportion are using sewage systems in which sewage is not being treated. [HL252]
§ Baroness AmosBaghdad's three sewage treatment plants serve approximately 80 per cent of the city's population. They are currently under repair by USAID, and are expected to be restored to full capacity by October 2004. Meanwhile, the majority of sewage from Baghdad's 3.8 million residents will remain untreated.
It is estimated that only 9 per cent of the urban population outside Baghdad is served by sewage systems. In Basra, sewage is currently not being treated. Rural areas and the north of Iraq largely have no piped sewerage systems.
The United Nations and World Bank have identified the following priority targets for sewerage 2004–07: raise sanitation coverage in urban areas by 10 per cent; prepare a comprehensive strategy for sanitation in rural areas; develop city master plans for the provision of water and sanitation services in 15 major cities; and, in the medium term, raise sanitation coverage by 30 per cent in both urban and rural areas.
From its recently agreed supplemental appropriation, the USA has allocated 675 million US dollars towards improving sewerage systems in Iraq. The initial focus will be on the cities of Baghdad, Basra, Erbil and Kula.