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 Najaf
Najaf
is located between Anbar and Muthanna
governorates on Iraq’s southern border with
Saudi Arabia. Its landscape is dominated by
desert, particularly towards the border with
Saudi Arabia. Najaf city hosts the shrine of
Ali Ibn Abi Talib, who is regarded by Shi’a
Muslims as the first Imam and by Sunni
Muslims as the fourth Caliph. The city is
therefore one of the most holy sites in
Shi’a Islam, attracting high numbers of
religious tourists from within Iraq and
abroad, and is a centre for religious
scholarship. Other religious sites in the
governorate include Wadi Salaam (Valley of
Peace), and Kufa Mosque. The security
situation in the governorate remains calm.
Tourism is the most important sector for
the governorate’s economy, contributing 30%
of its gross domestic product (GDP). Najaf
also specializes in the manufacturing of
construction materials such as cement and
glass. In total, industry contributes 14% of
Najaf’s GDP. The expansion of the tourism
and industry sectors is hindered by poor
private sector investment and infrastructure
and restrictive regulation on religious
tourism. Najaf’s agriculture, which
contributes 15% of the GDP, is based on
wheat, rice, dates, and vegetables.
Najaf performs relatively well according
to some development indicators, but poverty,
poor education and infrastructure remain
major issues. Primary school enrolment rates
among boys are among the lowest in the
country at 75% with little difference
between urban and rural areas. Girls’
primary school enrolment rates are higher in
urban areas (90%) than in rural areas (67%).
Sanitation and access to safe water are poor
in Al-Kufa and Al-Manathera districts.
Najaf’s IDP population is of average size
compared to other governorates. 84% of
Najaf’s IDPs are originally from Baghdad,
and almost all are Shi’a. Conditions for
these IDPs remain difficult, with lack of
employment opportunities exacerbated by
rising housing rents and irregular Public
Distribution System (PDS) access. Over a
quarter of IDPs never receive the food
ration, and a further 68% only sporadically.
59% of households have no member in
employment.
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Governorate
Capital: |
Najaf |
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Area: |
28,824 sq km (6.6% of Iraq) |
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Population: |
614,997 (4% of total) |
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Source: GoI COSIT (est. for 2007) |
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Gender
Distribution: |
Male: 50% |
Female: 50% |
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Geo
Distribution: |
Rural: 31.4% |
Urban: 68.4% |
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Source:
GoI COSIT (est. for 2007) |
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Population
by district: |
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Source:
WFP VAM (2007) |
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