Iraq to impose two-day curfew for first census in decades

Iraq has postponed censuses several times in almost three decades because of the security situation in the country.

Iraq will impose a two-day curfew in November for the country’s first census in 27 years, officials said.

“[The] curfew will be imposed in all provinces of Iraq on November 20 and 21 to conduct a population census,” Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement on Sunday.

Local media reports said various measures have been approved for the process, including finalising coordination with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for the training of statistical staff.

Also, the process will receive support from multiple ministries in providing classrooms and youth centres for staff training, reports added.

Ravaged by decades of conflict and violence, Iraq has postponed a census several times, most notably in 2010 because of tensions over disputed territories.