They attributed this to the security and exceptional circumstances experienced by the province over the past years, pointing to plans to reduce poverty and slums in the province.

“The poverty rate in Diyala exceed 30%, including 7% suffer from extreme poverty, pledging not to keep the situation as it is,” Diyala governor, Omar Humairi said in the press release to “Shafaq News”.

He also pledged to provide services and a decent life for citizens living in informal housing areas in the province.

According to the report of the Global Center for Development Studies released last year that nearly eight million Iraqis are living below the poverty line on less than one dollar per day.

But the Iraqi government figures refer that the percentage of poverty in the country is estimated at 18%.