BAGHDAD,
August 9 (IslamOnline.net) - As roads became ridden with perils and
life is too much precious, prices of land transportation through
Iraq’s high ways have skyrocketed amid a spree of kidnappings and
killings of truck drivers.
Soaring
from $300 to a staggering $1000 rent fees per one truck, the prices
now scarcely lure truckers from neighboring countries to take the
risk. The TV footage of Turkish driver Murat Yuce shot in the head
three times is enough to scare away the lionhearted.
“In
the past, companies used to hire a truck driver for only $300 as
traveling by road was by no means dangerous,” Ahmad Mohsen
Al-Karkhi, an official with Iraq’s Land Transportation Association,
told Al-Quds Press.
“But
now, it is a different story. Every trucker now thinks twice before
deciding to go all the way to Iraq to transfer food stuff or fuel
[mainly for the US military]. They prefer now working inside Iraqi
towns and cities to the country’s perilous highways,” he added.
Playing
It Safe
 |
|
Truck drivers keep off Iraq’s highways
|
Driver
Mohammad Ahmad has traveled thousands of kilometres transferring
commodities of various types between Iraq and Jordan. But now he is no
longer motivated by the lucrative pay.
“It
is not worth it. Life is too precious,” decisive Ahmad told the
London-based news agency.
“Bearing
in mind the increasing mortar attacks, bandits and resistance
fighters, who don’t balk at setting ablaze any truck suspected of
delivering materials to the US military, I played it safe and decided
to limit my work to Baghdad and nearby cities.”
The
towering cost of delivery has plausibly caused price hikes in imported
commodities despite free-of-charge customs.
On
the crossing point between Iraq and Jordan, dozens of Arab tradesmen
hunt everyday for willing Iraqi drivers. They usually return
empty-handed.
The
kidnapping of truck drivers in Iraq has been making the news every
day.
On
Friday, August 6, four Lebanese truck drivers have been taken hostage
by gunmen outside Baghdad.
Four
Jordanian truck drivers, snatched 10 days ago, were released in the
flashpoint city of Fallujah.
Two
Turkish truck drivers were also set free Wednesday, August 4, while
video footage released on the Internet last Monday, August 2, showed
militants shooting a Turkish hostage working for a private company
that provides services to the US military.
