The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture has officially announced the suspension of the movement of shipments of livestock and live animals coming from Syrian territory through the "transit" system, heading to local markets or to the markets of the Arab Gulf countries, while the Syrian Ports Authority denied the existence of any diseases in Syrian livestock.
In an official statement issued by the Iraqi Ministry, the decision was taken against the backdrop of accurate and confirmed information and veterinary reports stating the spread of the "foot-and-mouth disease" disease that affects herds of cattle and sheep in several Syrian governorates, which necessitated immediate and urgent action to prevent the leakage or transmission of epidemic diseases across the common borders.
Strict health on borders and warning against misinformation
The Iraqi agricultural authorities stressed that health and veterinary measures are strictly applied without discrimination or exception to all neighboring countries, based on field readings of the local epidemiological monitoring system, official reports issued by international organizations, and continuous media follow-up on the regional health situation.
In the same context, the Ministry warned against the spread of misinformation aimed at making citizens question the efficiency of veterinary procedures and measures followed at the ports, stressing that the top priority of government agencies lies in maintaining food security, protecting the health of consumers, and immunizing the meat and dairy production sector in the country from any serious epidemiological setback.
Syria denies any casualties
For his part, the Director of Relations at the General Authority for Ports and Customs, Mazen Alloush, denied what was circulated about the existence of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Syria, which the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture relied on in the decision to suspend the transit of Syrian livestock through Iraqi territory, stressing that it is an untrue claim and is not based on any official reports or proven epidemic cases on the ground.
Alloush said: "We communicated directly with the Iraqi side and told them clearly that this is completely negated and that there is no epidemic or spread of the disease in Syria that requires taking such measures, especially that decisions related to veterinary quarantine or the prevention of import and transit must be based on documented and proven cases in accordance with international veterinary procedures and standards, not on unconfirmed information or inaccurate estimates."
He added: "The export of Syrian livestock continues normally through Jordan as well as through Syrian ports without recording any health observations or objections from the competent authorities in the importing countries, which clearly refutes the claims circulating about the existence of any epidemic outbreak."
He continued: "We believe that there are parties that benefit from the diversion of transit and trade routes away from the brotherly Republic of Iraq, which have worked during the past period to influence the issuance of such a decision in an attempt to harm the movement of Syrian transport and trade exchange with the Arab Gulf countries through Iraqi territory, despite the increasing activity and remarkable success of transit lines through Syrian territory during the recent period."
Alloush stressed that the General Authority for Ports and Customs will continue to coordinate with the competent Syrian authorities and the Iraqi side to address this file and stop any unjustified measures that would harm the interests of breeders, traders and the movement of trade exchange between the two countries
Parallel emergency to confront hemorrhagic fever before al-Adha
This border ban coincided with a broad internal alert announced by the Iraqi Veterinary Department, headed by its Director General, Mohammed Aziz Al-Mayahi, through the implementation of four strict preventive and proactive measures in preparation for the sacrificial season and Eid al-Adha, with the aim of limiting the spread of the dangerous "hemorrhagic fever" disease and limiting its epidemiological hotspots.
The new Iraqi measures included activating joint control and inspection committees with the governors' offices, preventing the transfer of livestock between cities and affected areas except under an official health certificate proving that the animals are free of ticks that transmit the disease, in addition to intensifying awareness and educational campaigns and distributing guidance leaflets to breeders and citizens to ensure the safety of sacrifices and protect public health.
Blocking plans to revive Syria's economic artery
Earlier this year, the Syrian Ministry of Transport unveiled a comprehensive strategic plan to revive the land transit sector and revitalize truck traffic, which was severely damaged during the long years of war as a result of the closure of crossings and deteriorating security conditions, Iraqi sources said.
In this historical context, it is worth mentioning that before the years of the war, the land transit sector through Syria was witnessing a huge economic and commercial movement, as about 115,000 trucks used to cross Syrian territory annually coming from Turkey towards Jordan, Iraq and the Arab Gulf countries, before these vital indicators declined sharply due to the regional rupture and the closure of vital ports.
What is foot-and-mouth disease
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cleft animals such as cows, sheep, goats, and pigs.
According to medical sources, although it is rarely transmitted to humans, its danger lies in its ability to destroy animal production and cause heavy economic losses to breeders as a result of the decline in milk production and the deterioration of the structure of the herds. Iraq's decision to halt the transit of Syrian livestock comes to protect local livestock swarms from incoming viral strains that currently available vaccines may not be able to curb.