JALAWLA, Iraq — More than two years after being liberated from Islamic State control, residents here began reconstructing their own city after begging Baghdad for help with roads, schools and power lines.
Luay Al-Balani, in her 30s, said people felt helpless after getting no response from the central government 150 miles away and finding private companies too expensive. "So, we depended on ourselves. We cleaned the city,” said Al-Balani, an administrative official at the Khanaqin District Council who coordinates aid.
