Kurdistan markets hit hard by lockdown
Shafaq News / It seems that the recent decisions taken by Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) re- imposing a curfew during Eid Al-Fitr, as part of the measures to combat the outbreak of Corona pandemic, have "spoiled" the mood of the people, after refraining from the traditional preparations for Eid, which created a market depression.
KRG Ministry of Interior announced that it will impose a tight lockdown throughout the region during Eid al-Fitr holidays , beginning with the first days of the holiday and last for 72 hours.
Muhammad Ali, owner of a clothing store for children in Al-Qaysariya market in Erbil city told Shafaq News Agency that, "After the curfew was decided, nobody will buy anything from us, a lot of people returned the clothes they bought from us as they said if there is no Eid, then why should we buy anymore”.
Kamran Haji, in turn, wonders, "We do not know what to do ... Is it real that we are not going to visit our family and relatives in Eid?” Describing Eid Al-Fitr as " the lockdown holiday."
KRG Minister of Health, Saman Al-Barzanji confirmed earlier, that the curfew during Eid Al-Fitr will be total and includes pedestrian roaming between residential neighborhoods.
He also stressed that there would be no exception in the curfew, neither by vehicles, nor walking on foot at the level of all regions.
On the other hand, the Committee of Trade in Sulaymaniyah Province said today that KRG Interior Ministry announcement to impose a total curfew during Eid has caused a deep depression in the markets of the province.
Corona virus had a clear impact on the economy of all countries in the world and caused a tough depression in the region’s markets, Committee member, Soran Ghaffour said in a statement to Shafaq News Agency.
He added that the decision to impose the curfew hit the market for the second time after it started recovering a little bit during the past days.
Ghaffour pointed out that the delay in paying salaries and the current economic situation made citizens hesitate to spend their money, and these concerns affected all the markets.
While Citizens in Dohuk governorate faced the curfew decision with great anger.
"The decision came late after the citizens shopped everything for Eid al-Fitr," adding that "everyone was waiting for their relatives to visit after the long social distancing that lasted for months,” Saadallah Ahmed, a citizen from Dohuk, told Shafaq News Agency.
For his part, Ahmed Abdel-Qarar , a citizen describes it as "unfair to the province", where it is devoid of Corona virus.
Ahmed calls the concerned authorities to "ease the tight measures on Eid in order to give children the opportunity to celebrate the holiday."
Yet Haron Dosky, the owner of a store said that "the decision has negatively affected the commercial movement inside the market because of the people’s reluctance from buying."
It should be noted that Duhok Governorate recorded 19 cases of coronavirus, all recovered after receiving treatment in the governorate hospitals.
