The Allenby Bridge crossing between the West Bank and Jordan has been witnessing very serious overcrowdedness since Tuesday as tens of thousands are trying to leave to Jordan, the PA director of crossings said Wednesday.
Nathmi Muhannad told Ma’an via telephone that "for the first time ever, 7,200 passengers crossed to Jordan in a single day Tuesday."
The crossing, he said, operated from 6:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. the next day
The main cause of overcrowdedness is that 10,000 pilgrims were scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia Tuesday and Wednesday, added Muhanna. He said that 4,000 pilgrims left on Tuesday and 6,000 are scheduled to leave on Wednesday. Pilgrims, he said, need to travel as quickly as possible because they have visas for a few days only.
The travelers hall at the Palestinian side in Jericho was very overcrowded because passengers were unable to wait outside in the open due to the cold weather, says Muhanna. He said that the hall has 1,200 seats, but there were thousands inside on Tuesday.
On Wednesday morning, hundreds of vehicles queued along the street in front of the first stop of the crossing in Jericho causing crippling congestion again. Muhanna added that the crossing would be shut down at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday due to the expected snow storm.
Nathmi Muhannad told Ma’an via telephone that "for the first time ever, 7,200 passengers crossed to Jordan in a single day Tuesday."
The crossing, he said, operated from 6:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. the next day
The main cause of overcrowdedness is that 10,000 pilgrims were scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia Tuesday and Wednesday, added Muhanna. He said that 4,000 pilgrims left on Tuesday and 6,000 are scheduled to leave on Wednesday. Pilgrims, he said, need to travel as quickly as possible because they have visas for a few days only.
The travelers hall at the Palestinian side in Jericho was very overcrowded because passengers were unable to wait outside in the open due to the cold weather, says Muhanna. He said that the hall has 1,200 seats, but there were thousands inside on Tuesday.
On Wednesday morning, hundreds of vehicles queued along the street in front of the first stop of the crossing in Jericho causing crippling congestion again. Muhanna added that the crossing would be shut down at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday due to the expected snow storm.
