Basra bears the ravages of its frontline status during two of Iraq's last three wars. Historically a cosmopolitan trading centre, the country's second-largest city was heavily bombarded in the 1980-88 war with Iran.

Saddam Hussein, former Iraqi president, punished Basra for its role in the 1991 Shia uprising by starving the city of new investment. Electric power runs on average one hour out of six, and the smell of untreated sewage pervades the city.