”They Put Us Through the X-Ray Machines at The Iraqi Customs Along with The Vehicles”
Each border gate has its own unique problems but they have one common issue: endless queues… Our drivers at Habur Border Gate have also pointed out that exact problem. Unlike the other border gates, the reason behind Habur’s queues is the X-ray machine at the Iraqi Customs. All the drivers we’ve interviewed have stated that Iraqi Customs have made it obligatory for drivers to enter the X-ray machine along with their vehicles. Apart from losing time at the queue, they are saying that they have health problems because of the X-ray.
The Real Queue Is at The Truck Park…
When we arrived at Habur Border Gate, the queue in front of the Customs has drawn our attention. When we began talking to the officials and drivers, we’ve realised that the real queue is at the truck park… Drivers are put through the customers in separate groups. Firstly, we began talking to one of our drivers who conducts transportation to Iraq’s Erbil city. Our driver stated that he began his journey in Bandırma and said that they have a lot of problems with transportation prices. He also indicated that they use all the money they’ve earned, to pay the expenses. He has also said that the rather short queue is the result of decreased work in the market. He said that if business was as good as it used to, the queue would have been much longer.
“X-Ray Is Only Used for Turkish-Origin Vehicles”
We continued our conversation with another driver who was transporting textiles from Mardin. Our driver has stated that he has been working on this route for nearly a year and explained his biggest issue: “They put us through the X-ray machines at the Iraqi Customs along with the vehicles. They’ve made it obligatory and apply it only for Turkish-origin vehicles. They don’t do that for other vehicles!” He has also indicated that there is an issue with the flow of vehicles: “We go through a lot of checkpoints and of course, that is to ensure our safety. However, we lose a lot of time. Currently, you’re seeing empty platforms; however, there is a lot of vehicles waiting at the parking lot outside; the real queue is outside.”
“X-Ray Machine Gives Us Health Problems”
We continued to move towards the rear side where the queue began to form. We’ve pointed our microphone to another driver who began his journey in Karaman. As soon as we asked him “How is business?”, he began: “Business is certainly not good! We have so many problems that we wouldn’t even be able to finish listing them at a single interview. In terms of Habur; we have rather less issues with our Customs than we have with the Customs of the other side. The most important issue is the X-ray machine at the other side. It delays our affairs so much that, that machine is the biggest reason why we wait. Moreover, the X-Ray machine gives us health problems. We get a lot of headache because of it.”
We continue to move towards the rear. The vehicles that waited there, began to line up. As we waited for the next vehicles, the trash laying around on the floor have drawn our attention. It is so obvious that this place hasn’t been cleaned for a long time that we see piles of trash, lining the streets.
“We Can Find Cargo to Carry but Transportation Prices Are Very Low!”
We continued our interview with Hasan Ayman, who was carrying biscuits from Konya to Iraq’s Zaho city. Ayman stated that there aren’t any issues on his route, but said that he can’t say the same thing for business. Ayman said: “We can find cargo to carry but transportation prices are very low! With so many expenses, the transportation prices are too low compared to all these costs. When we pass the border, we have to pay for the highways and the weighbridges. The reason behind this queue is the X-ray machine at the other side. It wastes so much of our times.”
Mehmet Ali Ay, who began his route from Şırnak, carries vegetables. Our driver has stated that business is good but the rents are very low. Mehmet Ali Ay has also indicated that the X-ray machine at the Iraqi Customs causes long lines at the gate and that the X-ray machine is the biggest issue of the region.
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