Jordanians on border hope Syria regime gains can revive trade

RAMTHA, JORDAN: At the market in the Jordanian town of Ramtha hope is rising that the Syrian regime’s territorial gains just across the border might help bring business back to life.

Since war broke out in Syria more than seven years ago, the steady flow of goods coming across the frontier has dried up – coming to a complete halt when it was closed in 2015.

Those years of conflict have dealt a major blow to the economy of Jordan – dependent in large part on trade with its neighbour – and along the border the disruption has had a crippling impact.

Now an offensive by Syrian regime forces is seeing President Bashar al-Assad claw back territory in the southern frontier province of Daraa.

And – despite once backing the uprising against his regime – stallholders and market traders in Ramtha say they are banking on the Syrian government to reclaim control and reopen the vital border.

“To begin with we supported the Syrians who wanted freedom,” said Nasr Makhadmeh, a shop owner in his fifties.

“But we want to see the Syrian army retake all of Daraa province.”

If the frontier opens and the stream of merchandise starts again then Makhadmeh says he is sure business will begin booming.

“The days of prosperity will return,” he told AFP.

“The markets will be inundated once more.”

The importance to Jordan of trade with Syria is underlined by the president of Ramtha’s chamber of commerce, Abdelsalam Thiabat. — AFP