Latest news with #KirkukMunicipality
Shafaq News
20-04-2025
- Health
- Shafaq News
Kirkuk fights CCHF with slaughterhouse closures
Shafaq News/ Authorities in Kirkuk have shut down several unlicensed slaughterhouses to contain the spread of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), local officials said on Sunday. The District Commissioner of Kirkuk Falah Khalil told Shafaq News that the campaign targeted makeshift animal slaughter sites operating without adherence to health and safety regulations, adding that the closures were carried out following judicial approval, and coordinated with the Kirkuk Municipality, the city's veterinary hospital, and the Directorate of Health. 'The effort is ongoing in other parts of the province to protect public health and prevent further transmission of zoonotic diseases,' he pointed out. The crackdown is being implemented under Animal Health Law No. 32 of 2013, Public Health Law No. 89 of 1981, as well as other decrees and regulations banning unregulated slaughter operations. The outbreak in Kirkuk is part of a broader national surge in the CCHF cases, with at least 14 confirmed infections and two deaths reported across Iraq since the beginning of 2025. Kirkuk alone has recorded multiple infections in recent days, including a health worker and a resident from Taza, where stray livestock and poor veterinary oversight have been cited as key risk factors. Authorities have also confirmed cases in Nineveh, Dhi Qar, and Saladin provinces, prompting disinfection campaigns, livestock monitoring, and public awareness efforts. CCHF, a tick-borne viral disease often transmitted through contact with infected animals or their blood, remains highly lethal if not diagnosed and treated promptly.
Shafaq News
22-03-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
Kirkuk's Citadel crumbles: Calls grow for urgent action
Shafaq News/ Kirkuk's ancient citadel, a landmark dating back thousands of years, is at risk of further deterioration due to severe neglect, prompting urgent calls for action. Kirkuk Provincial Council member Sawsan Jadoua called, on Friday, for immediate intervention by federal and local authorities to save Kirkuk's historic citadel before further deterioration occurs, warning that neglect is already causing parts of the site to crumble. Jadoo criticized the lack of action from key authorities—including the federal government, Kirkuk Governorate, Kirkuk Municipality, and the Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage—stating they have 'failed to implement a comprehensive plan to restore and protect the citadel.' Calling for a joint effort from both official institutions and the public to revive the landmark, she emphasized the need for 'serious' restoration projects. Perched atop a vast archaeological mound holding remnants of ancient civilizations, Kirkuk Citadel stands as a testament to millennia of history. With more than 60 guard towers, the fortress—originally reinforced by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC—commands a strategic position on a four-cornered hill, soaring approximately 120 feet (About 3.7 m) above the surrounding plains. Overlooking the Khasa River, which swells during the rainy season, the citadel remains a striking symbol of the region's rich heritage.
