Economic Chaos at Anbar Border Crossings

Ahmad Khalaf al-Dulaimi, governor of Anbar, said in a phone interview with Al-Monitor that border crossings are operating only six to eight hours a day because of the security situation and the decreased flow of trucks. He noted that the province, which has been the most impacted economically by security incidents, is in direct contact with the administrations of Trebil and al-Walid crossings.

Dulaimi said that the majority of employees at both crossings are from Anbar, though some have been compelled to leave the province and abandon their work, another reason for the slow pace of work. Additionally, military operations continue to take place on the roads linking the border crossings to the rest of provinces, thus, it is impossible for commercial activity to take place.

Dulaimi called on security forces to secure some of these roads to ease the flow of goods, and to enforce less bureaucratic measures on the crossings, so that traders can keep transporting their goods.

Iraq's parliamentary economic committee held the Iraqi government responsible for the losses inflicted on Iraq due to security incidents in Anbar, describing the situation at the border crossings as “economic chaos.”

Mahma Khalil, an economic committee member, said in a phone interview with Al-Monitor that the federal government is neglecting the border crossings issue and the plight of traders and truck drivers. The country's political and security issues have come to overshadow economic issues, which is why Iraq lags behind economically. Khalil explained that the government — and politicians in particular — do not recognize the importance of the economic situation.

Though the private sector is affected by the border situation, the public sector is experiencing less harm because it is already weak and not supported by the government.

Economic expert Hassan al-Assadi told Al-Monitor that the various fees imposed on goods transported through Trebil and al-Walid have increased by 20 to 30%. This increase, he explained, began after several traders and truck and transportation company owners refrained from transporting goods through Anbar crossings because of the security situation. He noted that this rate has impacted the price of goods, a consequence citizens alone will bear.