Destroyed by ISIS, Iraq Needs Rp 1,200 Trillion for Reconstruction

Kuwait on Monday (12/2/2018) opened a conference week aimed at seeking help to rebuild Iraq that was devastated by attacks by Islamic groups in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

VOA reported, Iraq is estimated to require funds of approximately 88.2 billion US dollars or about Rp 1,200 trillion.

Meanwhile, separately, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is believed to announce aid of more than $ 3 billion or Rp 40.9 trillion.

However, there is still a lot of money needed to build Iraq. Previously, ISIS captured the second largest city in Iraq, Mosul, and a vast area in June 2014.

"We have completed one battle, but now we are facing a war for reconstruction," said Mustafa al-Hiti, head of Iraq's reconstruction fund for areas affected by terrorist operations.

The most affected area is Mosul. Although US-led coalition forces can repel the ISIS, air strikes and car bombs destroy houses and government buildings.

Of the funds needed, Iraqi officials estimate about 17 billion US dollars or Rp 231.9 trillion will be allocated for the construction of houses.

The UN estimates that 40,000 houses will need to be rebuilt in Mosul.

"Most of the damage occurred in western Mosul, which passes through one of the worst and most violent battles in history," said Nofal al-Akoub, governor of Nineveh province, Iraq.

Al-Akoub said, it took 42 billion US dollars or Rp 572.9 trillion to build his province.

The war against ISIS has evacuated more than 5 million people. Only about half of them return to their hometowns in Iraq.

On the other hand, US President Donald Trump on Monday (12/2/2018) Twitter on Twitter about fund depletion in the Middle East according to him is a stupid act.

Billions of US dollars have been poured into Iraq, after the US-led invasion in 2003 succeeded in overthrowing dictator Saddam Hussein.

While the US has spent more than 60 billion US dollars or Rp 818 trillion for nine years for Iraq. Around 25 billion US dollars or Rp 314 trillion went into Iraqi military funding.

US Government Auditors also find waste and corruption that sparked the suspicion of Western politicians such as Trump so as to reduce foreign aid from his country