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Jordan Closes Border with Syria over Spike in COVID-19 Cases

Jordanian border crossing, Jaber is seen in the city of Mafraq, Jordan (File photo: Reuters)
Jordanian border crossing, Jaber is seen in the city of Mafraq, Jordan (File photo: Reuters)
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Jordan Closes Border with Syria over Spike in COVID-19 Cases

Jordanian border crossing, Jaber is seen in the city of Mafraq, Jordan (File photo: Reuters)
Jordanian border crossing, Jaber is seen in the city of Mafraq, Jordan (File photo: Reuters)

Jordan’s Minister of Interior Salama Hammad ordered the closure of Jaber border crossing with Syria for a week.

The decision, effective as of Thursday, comes upon the recommendation of a government committee tasked to run borders and airport affairs.

Hammad said the crossing will be closed and its situation will be assessed to ensure the safety of civilians and staff, state-run Petra news agency reported.

This comes after a number of coronavirus infections were recorded among the staff at the crossing.

Over the past two days, Jordan recorded 25 COVID-19 cases, most of which were detected among arrivals at the border.

The committee asserted the need to complete all procedures to clear all goods at the crossing before its closure.

It also tasked Health Minister Saad Jaber to take the necessary health and preventive measures to isolate workers at the Jaber Border Crossing, in cooperation and coordination with the relevant authorities.

Also, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz announced that local virus infections had reached 25, adding that the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases since Wednesday evening is a “worrisome development” and a source of concern.

Razzaz pointed out that the source of the infection must be verified, as the majority were recorded at the Jaber Border Crossing, noting that authorities must take immediate measures to prevent the virus from spreading.

The PM hoped to overcome this pandemic and the second wave that many countries in the world and the region are facing, calling upon Jordanians to take this issue seriously.

As of Monday, Jordan recorded 1,283 virus cases including 1,189 recoveries and 11 deaths. Also, 66 persons are still receiving treatment in two specialized hospitals.

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UN Lays Groundwork for Gaza Aid Surge under Ceasefire but Still Sees Challenges

An Israeli Black Hawk military helicopter lands inside North Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel, January 14, 2025. (Reuters)
An Israeli Black Hawk military helicopter lands inside North Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel, January 14, 2025. (Reuters)
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UN Lays Groundwork for Gaza Aid Surge under Ceasefire but Still Sees Challenges

An Israeli Black Hawk military helicopter lands inside North Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel, January 14, 2025. (Reuters)
An Israeli Black Hawk military helicopter lands inside North Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel, January 14, 2025. (Reuters)

The United Nations said on Tuesday it was busy preparing to expand humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip under a potential ceasefire but uncertainty around border access and security in the enclave remain obstacles.

Negotiators in Qatar are hammering out final details of a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, with mediators and the warring sides all describing a deal as closer than ever. A truce would include a significant increase of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

The UN humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, met with Israeli and Palestinian ministers in recent days and spoke with the Egyptian foreign minister on Tuesday about UN engagement in a ceasefire, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

"The UN system as a whole is in intense planning and preparation for when a ceasefire comes into play, and how we can increase the aid," Dujarric said.

Among the unknowns are what border crossings would be open into Gaza under a truce and how secure the enclave would be for aid distribution since many shipments have been targeted by armed gangs and looters during the conflict.

"Obviously, things that will continue to be challenging because we don't have answers to all those questions," Dujarric said.

The UN has complained of aid obstacles in Gaza throughout the 15-month-old war. The UN says Israel and lawlessness in the enclave have impeded the entry and distribution of aid in the war zone.

'DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE'

Global food security experts warned in November there is a "strong likelihood that famine is imminent" in northern Gaza. More than 46,000 people have been killed in Israel's assault on Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials.

Israel has said the quantity of aid delivered to Gaza -- which it puts at more than a million tons over the past year -- has been adequate. But it accuses Hamas of hijacking the assistance before it reaches Palestinians in need. Hamas has denied the allegations and blamed Israel for shortages.

The fate of the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA - which the UN says is the backbone of aid operations in Gaza - is also unclear as a law banning its operation on Israeli land and contact with Israeli authorities is due to take effect later this month.

Dujarric said the UN and partner organizations are "doing everything possible" to reach Palestinians in need with extremely limited resources.

"However, ongoing hostilities and violent armed looting as well as systematic access restrictions continue to severely constrain our efforts," he said. "Road damage, unexploded ordinances, fuel shortages and a lack of adequate telecommunications equipment are also hampering our work."

"It is imperative that vital aid and commercial goods can enter Gaza through all available border crossings without delay, at a scale needed," he said.

Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel has laid much of Gaza to waste, and the territory's pre-war population of 2.3 million people has been displaced multiple times, humanitarian agencies say.