Since the US-led occupation of Iraq began in 2003, hundreds of explosions have rocked the country, killing thousands of civilians and causing serious damage to vital infrastructure.
There are no official statistics on the total number of people who have been killed or injured specifically in bomb explosions and suicide attacks. However, officials at the Iraqi Ministry of Interior said the 20 deadliest bomb attacks in the country since 2003 had killed 1,750 people and injured 3,100.
On 16 January, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) issued a report that said just over 34,000 Iraqi civilians were killed in 2006 and nearly 37,000 wounded.
In addition to the deaths and injuries caused directly by bombs, millions of civilians are suffering as a result of the havoc wreaked on the country's infrastructure by such explosions, which have made it extremely difficult for the government to provide crucial public services.
"The constant attacks in Iraq have different targets but all of them have caused the further deterioration of water and sewage systems, the death of dozens of citizens and the destruction of hospitals, clinics, schools and universities," said Fua'ad Rassi, a spokesman at the Ministry of Municipality and Public Works.
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