Jordan’s economy reels under Syrian turmoil

Though Jordan ruled against sanctions on neighbouring Syria, the uprising across the border has had a disastrous effect on the Jordanian economy.

Trade between the two has dropped by 50 per cent as transport problems pile up.

So-called road bandits, army tanks on the streets, and a depreciating Syrian pound have all hurt transport and trade to neighbouring Jordan, which used to rely on Syria as a passage route for up to 95 per cent of its food imports from abroad.

The Syrian currency crisis is prompting suppliers to send fewer goods to Jordan, the latter is turning to costly and slow sea shipments to transport goods.

Al Jazeera’s Nisreen El Shamayleh reports from Amman.