10 November 2004	Wednesday	26 Ramazan 1425

BAGHDAD: Inam is one of the lucky ones. With her daughter, the Iraqi mother succeeded in leaving Baghdad Monday morning for Amman. She travelled to Jordan for an eye examination, as medical treatment in Iraq leaves much to be desired.

Acute cases can usually be taken care of in the country, but even then hospitals and clinics often lack essential equipment. For difficult cases, patients who can afford to do so travel abroad - mainly to Jordan.

Inam wonders why the driver does not take the highways, but instead uses side roads to leave Baghdad. Only after about 120 kilometres - after they pass Fallujah and Ramadi - does their driver, Abu Ali, turn onto the expressway.

The offensive by US troops and Iraqi security forces against the insurgents in the Sunni Triangle has just begun.

Around 4 pm, Inam is in Amman. Two hours later the borders to Syria and Jordan would have closed, because of the situation in Iraq. The Interim Iraqi Government is trying to prevent the flight of rebels out of the country as well as supplies for them coming in. Abu Ali is out of luck.

Every two days, he drives the 1,000 kilometres between the two Arab capitals. The 100 dollars that he earns from the trip has to made do for food for him and his family, cover the costs of the vehicle, as well as fees and a hotel room for a couple of hours sleep, before he gets back on the road for Baghdad.

Now he has to stay in Jordan. Abu Ali is on a sort of forced holiday, as only heaven knows when the border will open again. And there are many more like him.

It is estimated that 1,000 individuals cross daily into Jordan, a third less to Damascus, not to mention the transport of goods.

Jordan, above all, has become Iraq's lifeline. The port in Aqaba and the airport in Amman serve as the number 1 distribution centres for trade with Iraq. But for the time being, the only thing allowed to cross the Iraqi borders with Jordan and Syria is food. "And coffins," says the 26-year-old Abu Ali bitterly. He has no idea when he will see his family again.-dpa