[View the story "A day in the life: Iraq" on Storify ]A day in the life: Iraq Storified by AJAMStream · Fri, Mar 07 2014 13:54:15
U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq at the end of 2011, but not without continuing a legacy of war for a country that has been in conflict for many decades. Military-related pollution has been
suspected of causing a rise in cancer and congenital birth defects, the country still
struggles to provide electricity to all of its residents and citizens worry that
corruption is only increasing.
A
poll conducted just before the U.S. withdrawal found that 42 percent of Iraqis were worse after the invasion, compared to 30 percent who felt they were better off. Overall, the Iraqis polled could not identify a single area of life positively impacted since the U.S. entered the country.
Now, two years after the withdrawal, Iraq is adjusting to life after the Americans. The tweet below paints a picture of their daily juxtaposition.
Two # scenes from #Iraq today: celebrating winning in #Football, & carrying the coffin of a bombimg victim @AFPphoto http://t.co/emm2NPNANKMohamad Ali Harissi
Iraq has been rocked by new violence in recent months, leading to
concerns that increased sectarianism may turn into civil war. The UN
estimated that more than 7,800 Iraqi civilians were killed in 2013 alone, making it the country's deadliest year since 2008. Though figures vary, news agency AFP has kept a public
document tracking Iraq's casualty numbers.
#INFOGRAPHIC Monthly death toll in Iraq violence. 37 Killed Thursday. @AFP http://t.co/m4kEMhaL4EAgence France-Presse
The violence has turned into a daily reality for many of Iraq's 32 million citizens, nearly
half of whom are under the age of 18. Al Jazeera English producer Aws Haidari recently returned from a trip to Iraq, his birthplace, in the first visit since 1985. He chronicled that journey on social media.
First drive in #Baghdad.awsmh
Terrorism aftermath. This was one side of the blast that happened near my aunt's house two days ago. This was the building that wasn't damaged much. #Baghdad #Iraq #Karradehawsmh
#Kremat, along side the #Tigris river. Buildings like this help me imagine "the good old days" as my father says. The days when #Baghdad was a leading city in the #MENA region. Could that happen again? I wonder...awsmh
The Stream's community members weighed in on the current state of Iraq and where they think the country is headed.
Kurds had it different than the people in the South.For us,it was a chance for freedom after decades of oppression under Saddam.#AJAMStreamAzheen Ihsan Fuad
@AJAMStream @ajam instability and corruption within the ranks of security and the government in general,has rendered effective hold on IraqShwan Dizayee
@AJAMStream The instability in terms of politics & security will stay the same & expectations should not be too high for next 5 yearsZana k.Gul
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