Abu Dhabi: The truck crisis at the UAE-Saudi Arabia border at Al Ghuwaifat has been resolved following discussions between the UAE and Saudi authorities, a senior official told Gulf News Sunday.
"The problem has been solved with the cooperation of Saudi officials," said an official from the UAE Ministry of Interior, who did not want to be named.
He said administrative problems had caused the problems at Batha border checkpoint.
Video: Trucks stranded at border
A delegation of officials from the UAE Immigration authorities, the UAE Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Federal Customs Authority contacted the Saudi officials who were receptive to find solutions to the problem, according to the official.
Problems
"They wanted to eliminate all obstacles for the smooth flow of trucks through the borders, understanding the humanitarian crisis of hundreds of truck drivers who were stuck at the border," he said.
The Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the UAE Red Crescent have provided food and water to the drivers, the official added.
As Gulf News reported late on Saturday, at least two thousand UAE truck drivers were stranded at the border due to alleged slow customs clearance by Saudi authorities.
Truck drivers said they had been undergoing hardships since the problem started on March 28 due to lack of adequate toilet facilities at the border checkpoint.
There was a ten kilometre-long queue of trucks on the road on Thursday evening but it was cleared by Saturday because fewer trucks had reached the border over the weekend, truck drivers said.
They were delighted to see the improved flow of trucks by Sunday afternoon.
"I am relieved that I can leave the Batha checkpoint today [Sunday], otherwise I was expecting it by Monday evening only," Saidu, an Indian truck driver, said Sunday.
A Delegations of officials from the UAE Immigration authorities, the UAE Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Federal Customs Authority contacted the Saudi officials who were receptive to find solutions to the problem, according to the official.
"They wanted to eliminate all obstacles to the smooth flow of trucks through the borders, understanding the humanitarian crisis of hundreds of trucks drivers who were stuck at the border," he said.
The Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the UAE Red Crescent have provided food and water to the drivers, the official added.
Video: UAE truckers speak of frustrations
As Gulf News reported late on Saturday, at least two thousand UAE truck drivers were stranded at the border due to alleged slow customs clearance by Saudi authorities.
Truck drivers said they had been undergoing hardships due to lack of adequate toilets inside the border check points since the problem started last Sunday.
There was a ten kilometre queue of trucks on the road Thursday evening but it was cleared by Saturday because less trucks reached the border during at the weekend, truck drivers said.
