- Title: Displaced Syrian shop owners bring new business to Idlib
- Date: 25th July 2017
- Summary: IDLIB, SYRIA (JULY 24, 2017) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) TWO MOTORBIKES RIDING THROUGH BUSY STREET TWO MEN SHAKING HANDS OUTSIDE A SWEET SHOP VARIOUS OF SWEET SHOP WORKERS ROLLING OUT AND KNEADING DOUGH VARIOUS OF SWEET SHOP WORKER FILLING DOUGH ROLLS WITH SWEET CHEESE TO MAKE SYRIAN DESSERT, HALAWET EL-JIBN VARIOUS OF 'AL HOMSI' SWEET SHOP OWNER, ABU AHMAD AL HOMSI, PREPARING AND PACKAGING HALAWET EL-JIBN DESSERT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) 'AL HOMSI' SWEET SHOP OWNER, ABU AHMAD AL HOMSI, SAYING: "Business was much better and more profitable in Homs compared to here and the quality was much better. The situation has affected our profession: there is a difference with making Halawi al-Jibn in Homs and here, as Syrians move from one place to another and Homs is located in the middle of Syria." VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF SHOPS CALLED DARAYA, NAMED AFTER CITY OF DARAYA VARIOUS OF A SANDWICH SHOP WORKER SLICING KEBAB MEAT TO PREPARE A SHAWARMA SANDWICH VARIOUS OF ANOTHER WORKER DEEP FRYING CHIPS VARIOUS OF 'SULTAN DARAYA' SANDWICH SHOP OWNER, SULTAN AL HASSAN, SLICING PICKLES IN SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) 'SULTAN DARAYA' SANDWICH SHOP OWNER, SULTAN AL HASSAN SAYING: "We were displaced from al Sham (Damascus), from Barza and Daraya. Thank God we have had this shop open for two months and thank God our situation is gradually getting better. There is a cooperation with families in Idlib but the thing is that there are some products that have been shown and there are some products that have been displayed but they have not accepted them yet." VARIOUS OF AL HASSAN PREPARING A SALAD VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT MARKET
- Embargoed: 8th August 2017 13:45
- Keywords: Syria shopkeepers return Syria shop open Idlib shopkeepers return Idlib Syria shops open
- Location: IDLIB, SYRIA
- Reuters ID: LVA0016R7QPUD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: More than 2 million people live in the rebel-held Idlib province, which has become a refuge for displaced Syrian families who have left areas seized by the army.
Shop owners moving to the city of Idlib have tried to replicate their businesses, even naming stores after their hometowns, hoping to bring a flavour of home to their new customers.
Sweet shop owner Abu Ahmad al Homsi has a particular passion for baking Halawat al-Jibn, a much-loved Syrian dessert made with semolina, cheese and sugar.
Originally from the city of Homs, the baker opened the 'Al Homsi' shop in Idlib, making and selling sweet pastries.
Homsi said that his shop back home was far more profitable due to the larger number of Syrians passing through Homs compared with Idlib.
"Business was much better and more profitable in Homs compared to here and the quality was much better. The situation has affected our profession: there is a difference with making Halawi al-Jibn in Homs and here, as Syrians move from one place to another and Homs is located in the middle of Syria," he said.
But opening new shops has allowed displaced families and business owners to become better adapted to their new lives and integrate with their community in Idlib.
Sultan al Hassan, originally from the Damascus suburb of Daraya, opened the 'Sultan Daraya' sandwich shop in Idlib city two months ago, naming it after his home.
For now Hassan is hopeful that business will go well, with the city's recent arrivals hoping to make Idlib a diverse community, bringing all the country's flavours to their new home. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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