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Baghdad, 27 June 2022 - The United Nations set aside 27 June to annually celebrate the role that micro, small and medium enterprises play in the global economy, poverty reduction and the attainment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

This year, UN agencies in Iraq share a statement to recognize MSMEs at the heart of any resilient recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, and climate crisis. They contribute to the structural transformation of economies through decent jobs creation and income generation, particularly for vulnerable population, hence addressing the root causes of irregular migration.

Following the economic shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and in view of the current food insecurity, MSMEs can be effective agents of change to help advance in rebuilding and recovery efforts said UN Resident Coordinator in Iraq, Irena Vojkov-Sollorano, adding: They also have the potential to adopt actions in their business practices to contribute to building back better, in adapting to and mitigating climate change. MSMEs and start-ups need assistance to be the driving forces behind relevant innovations and take up new environmentally-friendly opportunities, as well as to improve their resilience to future shocks. Empowering MSMEs can thus contribute to a transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all and to building greater stability and resilience.

In Iraq, MSMEs represent a large share of the private sector. Supporting Iraqi MSMEs is instrumental for economic diversification, women and youth empowerment and ensuring sustainable peacebuilding efforts. Furthermore, supporting MSMEs comprises assisting young people as the upcoming employers and employees, leveraging on Iraqs demographic dividend. The White Paper for Economic Reform outlines the Government of Iraqs goals of attracting investment, inclusive development, introducing e-governance systems and fostering local production. By building on this impetus for reform and supporting MSMEs, the United Nations can help improve the overall business environment for MSMEs, increase their capacity to compete and assist the Iraqi government in achieving the goals set out in the Iraqs White Paper.

The UN in Iraq is working collaboratively to support MSMEs, particularly in high potential sectors for economic diversification and job creation, such as agriculture and agri-food value chains and the culture and creative industries. Improving MSMEs competitiveness and value chain upgrading opportunities is extremely needed nowadays in Iraq to boost the local economy and create sustainable livelihood opportunities. Well-defined strategies with mutually reinforcing interventions, fostering productive alliances, building bridges between the public and private sector and enhancing human and social capital, with a focus on young people, are crucial.

MSMEs need coordinated action and targeted support to untap their potential for sustainable and inclusive growth and decent work creation. We will continue to join our efforts to support MSMEs in Iraq to ensure they have the capacity and resources to leverage a green transition, increase their productivity and competitiveness and foster employment. The time to act is now.

Irena Vojkov-Sollorano, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq

Eric Buchot, Head of Country Programme, International Trade Centre

Dr. Salah ElHajjHassan, FAO Representative, Iraq

Ally Raza Qureshi, WFP Representative, Iraq

Maha Kattaa, ILO Country Coordinator, Iraq

George Gigauri, IOM Chief of Mission, Iraq

Erik Willems, Regional coordinator, UNCTAD

Zena Ali Ahmad, Resident Representative, UNDP Iraq

Paolo Fontani, Director and Representative to Iraq, UNESCO

Jean-Nicolas Beuze, UNHCR Representative, Iraq

Mads Oyen, OiC Representative, UNICEF

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On Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day, the UN calls for support to MSMEs as effective agents of change to help advance in...

More News28 Jun 2022 | 10:10 AM

Washington, June 28 (UNI) At least 46 people were found dead in a semi-truck in Texas' San Antonio, according to authorities.

Washington, June 28 (UNI/Sputnik) At least 40 bodies of migrants without documents were found dead in a tractor-trailer in San Antonio, the US state of Texas, Fox News reported citing sources.

United Nations, June 28 (UNI/Sputnik) The United Nations Security Council is going to meet on Ukraine on Tuesday at 3 pm EST (7:00 pm GMT), according to the council's program.

Kuala Lumpur, June 28 (UNI/Xinhua) Malaysia recorded 1,894 new Covid-19 infections as of midnight Monday, bringing the total tally to 4,558,558, according to the Health Ministry.

WASHINGTON, June 28 (Sputnik) - At least 40 bodies of migrants without documents were found dead in a tractor-trailer in San Antonio, the US state of Texas, Fox News reported citing sources.

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Iraq finds remains of 47 victims of 1980s' war with Iran - United News of India

When Kurdish refugee Bewar Esmat fled to Solihull after losing everything, little did he know his art would be showcased in the town's main venue for all to see. A gifted and trained artist, Iraqi Kurd Bewar was forced to flee the troubles of his homeland.

He arrived in Solihull in October 2021. Like many in his situation, he came to the UK with nothing, leaving behind a family and life that was once full of opportunity.

Holed up in a Solihull hotel with hundreds of refugees, Bewar lives in limbo while he waits for his Home Office interview. When most would crumble in the uncertainty, he has created a collection of stunning paintings.

READ MORE: Our stroll around BBC Back in Time neighbourhood found a community revelling in the limelight

His creations paint a vivid picture of the things he has seen. The white cliffs of Dover as he arrived on a boat, dark skies punctured by bright colours. His work is abstract, and created with the few resources he has.

Speaking to BirminghamLive through a translator, Bewar said: "I had this idea of what I wanted to do when I arrived. I had a certificate from an art academy in Iraq. I was an art teacher in Iraq, working for 13 years. I went to college."

And on where his ideas come from, he said: "I get ideas, [one picture] is from Dover, when I saw Dover, I was very happy."

Walk through Bewar's art exhibition in the video at the top of this article.

31-year-old Bewar is from Duhok, the capital city of the Kurdistan region in Iraq. Duhok itself is home to a huge refugee camp that first opened to host internally displaced Iraqis from the ISIS war in Iraq.

The UNHCR has reported that Iraq itself has a displacement crisis. Duhok camp has hosted displaced Iraqis, including Yazidis, Christians, Shabak, Kakai, Armenian and Turkmen minorities - some of whom have endured repeated displacement.

As a result of that, and other factors like religious and cultural persecution, people from that region have fled to claim asylum.

Bewar trained at a top art academy in Iraq, and was supported by his friends, who also live in temporary accommodation at the Solihull hotel, to display his impressive work. We have removed the identity of the hotel Bewar is staying at for security reasons.

More than 15 of Bewar's friends turned up to Solihull Council's refugee week event, at the Core Theatre on June 22, to support his first art show. Elliot Williams teaches Bewar and all of the refugees at the hotel English every week. He has got to know them well, and is clearly trusted by the group.

He said: "It's quite incredible, there's visible progression. From not knowing a word of English, they can now have basic conversations. I believe in them.

"English is fundamental" he added. The 26-year-old volunteers as a teacher but works with Entraide, a small charity dedicated to supporting refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers living in Solihull.

Those who reside in the hotels are considered by law to be asylum seekers whilst their applications for refugee status are considered by the Home Office. People housed in Solihull hotels are not necessarily destined to stay here, and could later be housed anywhere in the country.

Earlier this year, the Government came under fire for how much they spend on housing asylum seekers in hotels, with Home Secretary Priti Patel saying at the time: "We do not want people in hotels. We should not be housing people in hotels.

Communities boss at Solihull Council Alison Mc Grory said they are making a change to how the borough supports refugees.

"We supported a major exercise at Birmingham Airport last year when [refugees] came from Afghanistan, that was our first major work with refugees," she told BirminghamLive.

"We didn't have a formal resettlement service, now we do." She added: "We've started this year's [refugee week event] little. It's not just about the week, it's about what we do."

On what life is like living in temporary accomodation, Bewar said: "We need help, for art materials, for painting." And asked how he felt about being in Solihull, he replied: "I am happy, very happy."

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Refugee who fled to Solihull from Iraq produces stunning art from his temporary accommodation - Birmingham Live

BAGHDAD - Iraq's Parliament swore in new lawmakers on Thursday, replacing 73 legislators who resigned collectively earlier this month amid a prolonged political impasse over the formation of the country's next government.

The walkout by followers of Iraq's most influential Shiite politician, Muqtada al-Sadr, threw Iraq into further uncertainty, reshuffling the deck following the Oct. 10 elections, which gave the cleric the biggest bloc in Parliament.

Although he emerged as a winner, al-Sadr was unable to cobble together a coalition that can form a majority government. He has been locked in a power struggle with internal Shiite rivals backed by Iran, preventing the formation of a new government.

Two weeks ago, he ordered lawmakers from his parliamentary bloc to resign in a bid to break the eight-month impasse. The unprecedented move threw Iraq's political landscape into disarray.

According to Iraqi laws, if any seat in parliament becomes vacant, the candidate who obtains the second highest number of votes in their electoral district would replace them. In this case, it made al-Sadr's opponents from the so-called Coordination Framework, a coalition led by Iran-backed Shiite parties and their allies, the majority with around 122 seats.

It puts al-Sadr out of parliament for the first time since 2005, and allows pro-Iranian factions to determine the makeup of the next government.

"Today, the first step has been completed, which is the replacement deputies taking the oath," said Lawmaker Muhammad Saadoun Sayhod, from the Rule of Law coalition represented in the Framework.

"We will now start the process of electing the president and naming the prime minister from the Coordination Framework," he said, adding he expected the formation of a new government to begin soon.

There was no immediate reaction from al-Sadr to the swearing in of new lawmakers. The political deadlock has led to concerns of renewed protests and street clashes between supporters of al-Sadr and their Shiite rivals.

Even though Parliament is in recess, lawmakers mostly from the Framework alliance called for an extraordinary session Thursday to vote on the new lawmakers.

Sixty-four lawmakers were sworn in Thursday, while nine other replacements did not attend.

On Wednesday, al-Sadr accused Iranian proxies of political meddling. He also accused them of applying pressure against newly elected political independents and allies of his Sadrist bloc.

He called on parliamentarians not to succumb to pressure.

"I call on blocs to stand bravely for the sake of reform and saving the nation, and not to give in to sectarian pressures, as they are bubbles which will disappear," he said in a statement.

Munaf Al-Musawi, a political analyst and director of the Baghdad Center for Strategic Studies, said that the statement by al-Sadr against Iran's proxies also sends a message to his former allies Massoud Barzani of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and Speaker of Parliament Mohammed Al-Halbusi to avoid holding a parliament session.

He said if a session is held, the Coordination Framework and its allies would control parliament and Sadr's allies would pay the price.

Iraq's election was held several months earlier than expected, in response to mass protests that broke out in late 2019 and saw tens of thousands rally against endemic corruption, poor services and unemployment.

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Iraq Parliament Swears in New Members After Walkout of 73

BAGHDAD (AP) Iraqs Parliament swore in dozens of new lawmakers on Thursday, replacing 73 legislators loyal to powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, strengthening the power of rival Iran-backed Shiite factions in the assembly.

The 73 had resigned collectively earlier this month amid a prolonged political impasse over the formation of the country's next government. The unprecedented walkout, based on a request from al-Sadr, threw Iraq into further uncertainty, reshuffling the deck following the Oct. 10 elections, which gave him the biggest bloc in Parliament.

Although he emerged as a winner, al-Sadr has been locked in a power struggle with internal Shiite rivals backed by Iran and was unable to cobble together a coalition that can form a majority government.

Two weeks ago, he ordered lawmakers from his parliamentary bloc to resign in a bid to break the eight-month impasse. The move threw Iraqs political landscape into disarray.

According to Iraqi laws, if any seat in parliament becomes vacant, the candidate who obtains the second highest number of votes in their electoral district would replace them. In this case, it made al-Sadrs opponents from the so-called Coordination Framework, a coalition led by Iran-backed Shiite parties and their allies, the majority with around 122 seats.

It puts al-Sadr out of parliament for the first time since 2005, and allows pro-Iranian factions to determine the makeup of the next government.

Today, the first step has been completed, which is the replacement deputies taking the oath," said Lawmaker Muhammad Saadoun Sayhod, from the Rule of Law coalition represented in the Framework.

We will now start the process of electing the president and naming the prime minister from the Coordination Framework, he said, adding he expected the formation of a new government to begin soon.

There was no immediate reaction from al-Sadr to the swearing in of new lawmakers. There remain concerns the political deadlock could lead to renewed protests and street clashes between supporters of al-Sadr and their Shiite rivals.

Even though Parliament is in recess, lawmakers mostly from the Framework alliance called for an extraordinary session Thursday to vote on the new lawmakers. Sixty-four lawmakers were sworn in, while nine other replacements did not attend.

On Wednesday, al-Sadr accused Iranian proxies of political meddling. He also accused them of applying pressure against newly elected political independents and allies of his Sadrist bloc.

He called on parliamentarians not to succumb to pressure.

I call on blocs to stand bravely for the sake of reform and saving the nation, and not to give in to sectarian pressures, as they are bubbles which will disappear, he said in a statement.

Munaf Al-Musawi, a political analyst and director of the Baghdad Center for Strategic Studies, said the fight for government posts will now begin. Once a government is formed, he said al-Sadr's supporters could take to the streets, leading to clashes with Shiite rivals.

What comes next is more difficult, he said. With Coordination Framework and its allies now in control of Parliament, al-Sadr and his allies will pay the price for their walkout, he added.

Iraqs election was held several months earlier than expected, in response to mass protests that broke out in late 2019 and saw tens of thousands rally against endemic corruption, poor services and unemployment.

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Tension in Iraq as cleric accuses Iran's allies of meddling