- Title: Syrians begin rebuilding their homes and lives in Aleppo
- Date: 25th January 2017
- Summary: EASTERN ALEPPO, SYRIA (JANUARY 24, 2017) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DAMAGED BUILDINGS IN THE CITY OF ALEPPO / PEOPLE WALKING DOWN STREET WOMAN WALKING BY RUBBLE OF DAMAGED BUILDING CARS DRIVING DOWN STREET GRAFFITI ON WALL READING (Arabic): "JOIN AL FATAH ARMY" MORE OF PEOPLE WALKING DOWN STREET DAMAGED BUILDING VARIOUS OF LAUNDRY HANGING FROM BUILDING'S BALCONY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF ALEPPO, SALEEM BAKRY, SAYING: "Once I came back I started renovating my house and fixing it. There are certain things that are gone, so I replaced them. The general situation is good, they are giving out aid, clothes and things like that, as well as nutritional items." VARIOUS OF WORKERS REPAIRING DAMAGED CAUSED TO A HOME COLLAPSED BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF ALEPPO, SAEED ABDELGHANI, SAYING: "Going out to buy certain items, you will find that everything is expensive. There is no water, no electricity, no light. Everyone is facing the same issues. We have no water and no electricity. Three days ago, we got water for 30 minutes, then it got disconnected." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE FILLING UP PAILS WITH WATER FROM TANK ABANDONED MILITARY BARRACK RESIDENT OF ALEPPO, KINDA SUKARY AND HER FAMILY WALKING THROUGH DAMAGED BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF ALEPPO, KINDA SUKARY, SAYING: "This isn't how we used to live. When we came back home we found nothing, the house needs rebuilding, we need help, we need someone to help us." INTERVIEWER: "No one has offered to help?" KINDA: "No, no one offered help. We want to go back home but we will not be able to until we rebuild it. As you know rent is expensive. All we want is to go back home, but everything is expensive." DAMAGED BUILDING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BUYING ITEMS IN SHOP VENDOR SELLING BREAD FROM CART VARIOUS OF MAN GRILLING KEBABS ON THE SIDE OF STREET EXPOSED BEDROOM IN A DAMAGED HOME EXTERIOR OF DAMAGED BUILDING MAN WALKING BY DAMAGED BUILDING
- Embargoed: 8th February 2017 10:41
- Keywords: Syria Aleppo rebuilding homes
- Location: EASTERN ALEPPO, SYRIA
- City: EASTERN ALEPPO, SYRIA
- Country: Syria
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA00160KWX8N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: As heavy fighting erupted in northwestern Syria on Tuesday (January 24) between rebel groups, residents of Aleppo living in the war-torn city eagerly resume their daily lives.
The city, split into a government-held west and rebel-held east since the early days of the almost six-year Syrian conflict, became a focal point of the war.
The battle of Aleppo, one of the worst of a civil war that has drawn in global and regional powers, ended with victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his military coalition.
Months of fierce air strikes and siege on the eastern sector destroyed infrastructure, homes and hospitals before the government and its allies took control over the last remaining rebel pocket in late December last year.
Behind those fleeing was a wasteland of flattened buildings, concrete rubble and bullet-pocked walls, where tens of thousands had lived until recent days under intense bombardment even after medical and rescue services had collapsed.
In some areas, people returned to find the remains of their shattered homes.
"Once I came back I started renovating my house and fixing it. There are certain things that are gone, so I replaced them. The general situation is good, they are giving out aid, clothes and things like that, as well as nutritional items," said Salem Bakry, Aleppo resident.
Although Syrian government said at the beginning of January it had a plan to secure electricity, water and fuel supplies, people complained of shortages.
"There is no water, no electricity, no light. Everyone is facing the same issues. We have no water and no electricity. Three days ago, we got water for 30 minutes, then it got disconnected," said Said Abdelghani.
Another woman who returned to Aleppo said her family had found nothing and they desperately needed support in rebuilding their destroyed home.
"No one has offered help. We want to go back home but we will not be able to until we rebuild it. As you know rent is expensive. All we want is to go back home, but everything is expensive," said Kinda Sukary.
Rebel resistance in the Syrian city ended in December last year after years of fighting and months of bitter siege and bombardment that culminated in a bloody retreat, as insurgents agreed to withdraw in a ceasefire.
The once-flourishing economic centre with its renowned ancient sites has been pulverized during the war which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, created the world's worst refugee crisis and allowed for the rise of Islamic State.
After nearly six years of war, more than half Syria's people have fled their homes.
Peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition presided over by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran started on Monday (January 23) with the United States only present as an observer.
After two days of deliberations in Astana, Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said the powers had agreed in a final communiqué to establish a system "to observe and ensure full compliance with the ceasefire, prevent any provocations and determine all modalities of the ceasefire."
The Kremlin on Wednesday (January 25) hailed Syria peace talks held in Kazakhstan as a success and said more might be held in future if there was a need. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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