AMMAN – In the Jordanian capital the war on
Gaza is not merely a far-flung news story, customers are no longer buying,
music is barely played out loud, stores on the boycott list stand bare and
deserted and the general mood of despair, anger, and sadness are hard to miss.
اضافة اعلان
“It is noticeable during the nighttime hours
that the streets become empty, and people remain in front of screens,” Dr.
Mustafa Al-Ahmedi, who owns a pharmacy in Amman, told
Jordan News.
“This is especially clear when Abu Obaida
delivers his speech, giving the impression as if there is a state of curfew.”
Ahmedi said it was clear that spending habits
had changed since October 7, and a sense of anxiety had taken over as people
feared the worst for the future.
“It is very strange to see people refraining
from purchasing medicines and seeking alternatives. This is causing significant
losses for pharmacy owners, as sales have declined by 20 percent,” he said.
“Citizens now only buy essential medicines,
and there seems to be a sense of anxiety among them regarding spending.”
The Deputy of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce
Jamal al-Rifai, said that the war on Gaza has had a significant and direct
impact on economic activity in Jordan especially in the service, hospitality,
and tourism industries.
“We are the closest country to Palestine in
every sense of the word, with the bonds of blood and geography connecting us.
Therefore, these repercussions are expected and natural,” Rifai told
Jordan News.
“People make decisions to boycott and refrain
from buying in solidarity with our people in Gaza. Moreover, they abstain from
holding events, public invitations, and weddings. Everyone is now in a state of
anticipation, following the news hour by hour with a great sense of anger and
injustice.
Rifai added that the tourism sector had been
greatly and noticeably affected as many reservations as possible for tourist delegations
were canceled, with organizers considering the region to be unsafe and
unstable. He also confirmed that the sectors of clothing, electricity, and
furniture had witnessed a noticeable decline.
“Consumers feel a state of psychological
fatigue and a sense of waiting regarding the developments of the war in Gaza.
Today, the mood of the Jordanians is closely linked to their television. Even
people's meetings revolve around this topic.”
Rifai pointed out that the war on Gaza had
impacted importation due to the weakening purchasing power. However, he said
the export process was proceeding normally at the moment, but this could be
impacted by regional escalation in the Red Sea.
Wholesale merchant Saleh Shahin told
Jordan News that the economic situation
had declined by more than half, and citizens were now focusing only on
securing basic needs. As traders, he said they find themselves closing their
businesses early due to the calmness of the streets as people stay in their homes.
“Small traders used to come to buy goods
weekly, but after the aggression, they say that goods are barely being sold.
The economic downturn has had a significant impact on the purchasing behavior
of both businesses and individual consumers,” he said.
Economic expert Mufleh Akel, said that there
is no doubt that the war on Gaza has had a negative impact on the Jordanian
economy. He highlighted that at the beginning of this year, economic activity
in the first nine months was good in terms of growth, tourism, and improvement
in the labor market.
“It is clear there was a change and a decline
in the last quarter, precisely since the seventh of October. The country is now
witnessing different conditions, and the economy, politics, and social life are
going through a phase of boiling tension and instability,” he told
Jordan News.
They are in a state of anticipation, wondering
if the war will extend further or if it will be halted.”
He said the situation had led people to
refrain from all forms of spending due to uncertainty about the future making
them content with staying at home, following the news, and discussing what is
happening.
Akel believes that the economic situation will
worsen if the war on Gaza continues, and there will be no change in the
mindset, emotions, and spending habits of people unless the situation becomes
clearer.
“They are in a state of anticipation,
wondering if the war will extend further or if it will be halted,” he said.”
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