By Vanessa Beeley on June 21, 2017
The Citadel of the old city, Aleppo, April 2017
Photo:Vanessa Beeley
Walking the streets of East Aleppo hours after their liberation from Nusra Front-led terrorist occupation for almost 5 years, was a sombre and harrowing experience. Watching civilians emerge from a five year imprisonment during which they had been subjected to all manner of brutality, deprivation and abuse, was deeply affecting. But the inextinguishable hope was there even then, children describing the barren, rain-swept wasteland of Jebrin as “heaven”.
Returning to Aleppo four months later in April 2017 was a revelation. Aleppo had swept its streets clean of much of the terrorist detritus, the Russian sappers had cleared vast swathes of residential areas of the terrorist, lethal mines and booby traps. The street leading to the Umayyad Mosque in the Old City was unrecognisable from the smoke wreathed, menacing battle ground that had greeted us in December 2016. We could see that despite all the wanton devastation carried out by the various NATO and Gulf state armed, extremist factions, Aleppo was stubbornly coming back to life.
“…we are celebrating the beginning of the restoration of the ancient city; this celebration symbolizes the beginning of a peaceful life for the city’s residence – without bomb explosions and constant fear.”
From my June 2017 report first seen in sputnik:
Residents of the Syrian city of Aleppo have organized a carnival in the city’s ancient Citadel, a medieval fortified structure in the center of the Old City which only months earlier had been the site of intense fighting between the Syrian Army and jihadist militants.
The carnival, which before the war was celebrated annually to mark the end of school exams, has been restored after a five year hiatus, becoming a symbol of peace and life in the Aleppo’s historic Old City.
The carnival, featuring costumes, food, song, dance, and performances, took place at Aleppo’s Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is considered one of the oldest and largest castles in the world, its use going back to at least the 3rd century BC.
Amid the fight for the city beginning in 2012, the Citadel was briefly occupied by militants. Liberated by the Syrian Army in 2013, the ancient structure was surrounded by jihadists for several years before the entire city’s liberation by government forces last year. The militants dug tunnels under the Citadel to try and capture it, and fighting for the castle caused significant damage.
Speaking to local media, carnival participant Azizah Jakhari explained that “before the militants invaded Aleppo, school graduates had gathered at the Citadel for many decades to mark the start of their adult lives.”
This year, she said, “we are celebrating the beginning of the restoration of the ancient city; this celebration symbolizes the beginning of a peaceful life for the city’s residence – without bomb explosions and constant fear.”
The celebrations were temporarily interrupted by a power cut. Nevertheless, people were not in any hurry to go home.
Muhammad Akri, a local student, told journalists that Aleppo residents have become accustomed to power shortages over five years of occupation by the militants. “For us, it doesn’t matter whether we have electricity or not. Everyone is just happy that the city has finally been freed from the sound of exploding shells,” he said.
Muhammad emphasized that Aleppo’s residents are determined to help repair and restore the historic Old City as soon as possible, but added that everyone is aware that this may take decades.
It is estimated that up to 80% of Aleppo’s Old City has suffered damage thanks to the war. It is estimated that restoration efforts may cost up to $35-40 billion US. Officials hope funds for restoration will be collected from generous donors from around the world. In early June, the National Museum in the Czech Republic signed an agreement with the Syrian Department of Museums and Antiquities to allocate about 1.5 million euros from the Czech side for restoration efforts.
Source: 21st Century Wire