Kuwait warns citizens against travelling to Iraq by road during Muharram

Kuwait has urged its citizens to take precautions when visiting religious shrines in Iraq during the Islamic month of Muharram.

The Kuwaiti embassy in Baghdad has issued a set of instructions to those visiting Iraq and urged them to comply with the local laws and regulations, the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

It advised Kuwaiti citizens not to travel by road from Kuwait to Iraq or vice versa, not to stop at rest stations except when necessary and to avoid using unsecured roads within Iraq “due to the security situation” in the country.

The embassy also cautioned Kuwaiti nationals to adhere to strict hygiene standards when handling food and beverages and to always carry an ID card with the hotel name.

Those visiting Iraq were also told to be abide by the residence period of one month granted to travellers, cautioning that overstaying would draw a fine.

The instructions come even as street protests continue in the Iraqi city of Basra over the lack of basic services, disrupted electricity and water services and the lack of jobs, according to reports.

Earlier this month, Kuwait also announced a temporary ban on food imports from Iraq, following reports of a cholera outbreak in Basra.

Kuwaiti officials said that the measures were being put in place to prevent a potential cholera outbreak.