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Summary: The conflict in Syria has created major problems for Turkey’s international transport sector, a source of employment and income for many families. Syria serves as Turkey’s economic gateway to the rest of the Middle East, but idle trucks now fill the parking lots as transportation costs skyrocket. Publisher: Milliyet (Turkey) Original Title: Syrian Crisis Hikes-up Driver Fees 500 % Published on: Saturday, May 5, 2012 Translated On: Wednesday, May 9, 2012 Translator: Ceren Kenar |
Truck drivers avoid talking about the Syrian issue. They are concerned for their personal security, since they know that they will have to return to Syria again. The drivers do talk about how Syrian officials conduct tiresome security inspections of their trucks, and they say that their trucks are sometimes damaged if they happen upon clashes between the opposition and regime forces.
Mehmet Sanverdi, co-owner of a transportation company based in Reyhanli, said that before the clashes erupted in Syria, more than 100 trucks per month were loaded for transportation. Now, they only load about 20.
He explained:
Due to the risks of transporting goods through Syria, some companies have been trying to go through Iraq. A ro-ro (“roll on/roll off”) ferry connection through Egypt was introduced as an alternative to the Syrian route. Sanverdi welcomes the initiative, but still finds it problematic: “It is expensive to transport goods on a ro-ro ferry, so this is not an ideal option for transporters. We are undoubtedly looking forward to the end of the Syrian crisis. This trade route is also very important for Syrians. They make a lot of money from the trade taking place along this route.”
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