Truck drivers in Mosul protest fuel quota limits, demand flexible allocation

MOSUL, Iraq — Dozens of truck and cargo drivers staged a protest Thursday in the Wahda neighborhood of Mosul against restrictions on fuel distribution, saying the 300 liters of diesel allocated per truck every three days does not meet their needs and is threatening their livelihoods. The drivers said the problem is not limited to the fuel quantity. They reported that administrative conditions imposed by the agencies responsible for distribution have also made their work more difficult, including a requirement that fuel allocations be issued only in the name of the vehicle's registered owner. The rule has left drivers who have not yet completed property title transfers or who operate under power of attorney unable to access the allotments. The protesters called on the fuel distribution company and relevant state agencies to extend license durations and put in place flexible arrangements that allow cargo vehicles to obtain fuel without interruption. No immediate response from the authorities was reported.