Um Omar managed to get US$500 from the roaming bankers. “At least we can get this money,” she said. “I only hope that things don’t get worse.”
While those receiving social welfare payments and pensions from the Iraqi government have managed to find a way to access their credit, the commercial businesses of Mosul have not been able to find similar solutions. Business has ground to a halt, many of them say.
The money changing office that a local man who wished only to be known as Abu Nour runs, in central Mosul, near the Corniche market, ceased to be busy almost as soon as the mobile phones were cut off. “Ninety percent of our deals were done by mobile phone,” Abu Nour told NIQASH. “I know my customers better by voice than by sight,” he explained.
“There is a lot of confusion right now,” says Abu Nour, who’s been trying to make phone calls using the Internet. “Solutions will take time but as yet we haven’t found any answers. We can’t do all our business face to face.”
Abu Nour and other currency traders say their business is now limited to local currency.
Locals are also worried that the IS group might also decide to cut off the Internet. But they’re also retaining the somewhat dark Iraqi sense of humour alive – on various Facebook pages, locals have been posting pictures of homing pigeons and suggesting that maybe these animals – used historically to send messages in the Middle East – might be a good replacement for mobile phones.
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