Iraqi People Not Feeling Oil Boom

Economy growing, but not diversifying

Iraq's economy is expanding and government coffers are swelling, but Sabah Nuri, like many Iraqis who still struggle with poverty and poor services, has yet to see the benefits of rising oil exports.

Nuri is lucky: he has a job, albeit a relatively menial one, and a roof over his head. But he barely manages to cover the costs of rent, food and the regular payments for the neighbourhood generator used to meet the vast power shortfall.

"Everything here costs a lot of money — you always have to pay for things," said the 45-year-old, who pushes heavy items around Bab al-Sharji, one of Baghdad's oldest neighbourhoods, on a wooden cart.