Latest news with #Hasnawi
Rudaw Net
21-04-2025
- Health
- Rudaw Net
Crimean-Congo fever cases rise to 19 in Iraq, two dead
Also in Iraq Remains of 1,700 Kurds recovered over the past 17 years in Iraq: Official Families of Anfal victims demand remains of loved ones from Baghdad Iraq showcases locally made surveillance drones at defense expo in Baghdad Iraqi Shiite politicians at odds over Sharaa's visit to Baghdad A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq's health ministry on Sunday confirmed that two people have died and 17 others have contracted the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) across the country, adding that the government has begun implementing preventative measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Iraqi Health Minister Saleh Mahdi al-Hasnawi stated that 'so far, 19 cases of hemorrhagic fever have been recorded - seven in Dhi Qar and four in Kirkuk, two of which were fatal,' while the remaining cases are spread across various provinces. The minister said that the two fatalities in Kirkuk involved a butcher who initially contracted the virus and a nurse who was infected after treating him. Both passed away on Saturday. CCHF is a highly infectious viral disease transmitted to humans through multiple routes, including bites from infected ticks, contact with the blood or tissues of infected animals, exposure to bodily fluids of infected individuals, and consumption of raw or undercooked meat from infected livestock. Hasnawi stressed the importance of prevention, urging citizens to handle meat with caution. He advised people, especially homemakers, to use protective gloves and separate knives when preparing raw meat. 'Meat should be thoroughly washed and boiled before cooking,' he added. In the Kurdistan Region, no CCHF cases have been detected so far, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) reported, adding that the Region adopted 'precautionary measures' in advance. Rabar Muhammad, director-general of animal wealth and veterinary at the KRG's agriculture and water resources ministry, told Rudaw on Saturday that 'a joint cooperation room was established last month involving [Erbil's] agriculture, health and interior ministries to apply protective medicinal rinse to livestock.' Muhammad added that the KRG has allocated some 2.7 billion Iraqi dinars (around $2 million) since 2023 to purchase the necessary medication to control the spread of CCHF.. Although some individuals may experience mild symptoms, CCHF is often severe and can lead to internal bleeding, coma, and multi-organ failure, particularly affecting the liver, kidneys, and respiratory system. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus has a fatality rate of up to 40 percent. Iraqi Health Minister Hasnawi on Sunday stated that his ministry is 'exerting full efforts' to control the outbreak and reassured the public that 'with the proper measures in place, transmission to our citizens will be very rare and the virus will be contained.'
Rudaw Net
07-04-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
No significant barriers left to resume Kurdish oil exports: Baghdad
Also in Iraq Iraqi army, Peshmerga cooperate to upgrade Turkey border security Faili Kurds in Mandali lament neglect decades after genocide Iraq releases 1,000 detainees under general amnesty law Iraqi PM lays out trade strategy to mitigate US tariffs A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's oil ministry said on Monday that there are no major obstacles remaining to resume Kurdish oil exports via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline and only minor technical issues remain to be resolved between Erbil and Baghdad. 'The issue of restarting oil exports from the Kurdistan Region is tied to the interests of the people,' Iraqi oil ministry spokesperson Abdulsahib al-Hasnawi told Rudaw, adding that both Baghdad and Erbil are 'rushing' to resume exports and that 'they need to do so.' Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline have been suspended since March 2023 after a Paris-based arbitration court ruled in favor of Baghdad against Ankara, saying the latter had violated a 1973 pipeline agreement by allowing Erbil to begin exporting oil independently in 2014. Despite ongoing talks between Erbil, Baghdad, Ankara, and oil producers - with added pressure from the United States - the exports remain stalled, with their suspension costing Iraq billions of dollars in revenue. 'Certainly, meetings to resume oil exports will take place in the coming days, and they will be productive,' Hasnawi affirmed, emphasizing that there are 'no major disagreements' between Erbil and Baghdad regarding their resumption. Only 'a few specific points to reorganize the exports' remain, according to Hasnawi - points he expects to be resolved 'soon.' In late March, the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR), a coalition of eight international oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region, accused the Iraqi government of being "unwilling" to negotiate a solution that honors their contracts with Erbil, claiming Baghdad was instead attempting to unilaterally alter the terms. APIKUR shared another statement on Thursday, saying that their investments have been 'fundamentally harmed' by the closure of the pipeline and that they are in a 'hurry' to resume the oil exports - for which they have been 'at forefront to push negotiations with Baghdad.' 'Investments will continue when the ITP reopens and IOCs [international oil companies] are ensured of their contractual rights,' their statement read. In response, Baghdad's oil ministry on Friday said it 'regrets the publication of this erroneous and misleading statement.' It also called for an 'urgent meeting with the parties concerned' to negotiate the resumption of the exports 'in accordance with the modified budget law' as well as to reach an agreement that 'protects Iraq's rights and guarantees its commitments to investors.' The ministry further stated that the 'primary challenge' to negotiations stems from 'non-constructive steps' and 'unrealistic demands' made by other parties operating outside the existing legal framework. In early February, the Iraqi parliament approved amendments to the federal budget law, authorizing a $16-per-barrel fee for production and transport costs in the Kurdistan Region - a move seen as a crucial step toward restarting exports. The amendments also require both the federal government and the KRG to establish an international technical consultancy within 60 days to assess production and transportation costs for oil fields in the Kurdistan Region. If an agreement cannot be reached, the federal council of ministers will appoint the consultancy.
