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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Rows of trucks stretching nearly 10 kilometers have formed at the Mosul Dam checkpoint, where thousands of vehicles have been left idling for hours - some for nearly a full day - due to severe processing delays.
Haval Qasim, a member of Duhok's Chamber of Commerce, told Rudaw that “approximately 4,000 to 5,000 trucks are waiting in line. Inspections are being conducted on their manifests, entry date, and they have to go through the scanner.
The number of staff is limited; this is why there are delays.”
On Tuesday, Erbil and Baghdad agreed to extend deadlines for cargo transfers and warehouse storage. The deal further permitted goods stored since April 15 to be delivered to Baghdad-controlled areas, provided trucks carry customs seals.
However, despite the agreement, thousands of trucks remain stalled due to ongoing staffing shortages and slow inspection procedures.
Exhausted drivers say they’ve barely moved.
“They said the road was open, but we haven’t moved more than 100 meters all day,” said trucker Aziz Ahmed. “Some trucks entered last night, and it still took them 12 hours just to reach the Peshmerga checkpoint at the dam.”
Duhok officials have appealed to authorities in Nineveh and Baghdad, but no tangible progress has been made.
The crisis stems in part from a March 11 directive by the Iraqi government requiring merchants to attach QR codes to cargo and deliver goods to central and southern Iraq within 72 hours - a policy now contributing to growing logistical gridlock.
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