Life Going Back to Normal in Syria’s Palmyra Liberated From Daesh Terrorists

DAMASCUS (Sputnik) – Life in Syria’s Palmyra liberated from the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) terror group is gradually getting back to normal, with about 400 families having returned to the city and new schools and a hospital having opened.

Local residents told Sputnik about reviving Palmyra after a year of devastating rule of the Daesh terrorists and thanked Russian military for helping to liberate the city.

The Daesh, outlawed in Russia, seized Palmyra in May 2015. Terrorists destroyed a number of historic sights designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Arch of Triumph, the Temple of Baalshamin and the Temple of Bel. Jihadists also looted the national museum and the famous Palmyra’s necropolis.

Less than a year after that the Syrian army supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces managed to liberate Palmyra. Russian specialists demined the historic center as well as residential areas of the city. Russian historians and renovators visited Palmyra in early July and prepared a report assessing the condition of the damaged sites and costs of the renovation works.

PEOPLE RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES

Samir Mahmud, the head of a local council, told Sputnik that the life was getting back to normal with people returning to their homes: streets are cleared from debris, people have access to drinking water.

"Around 400 families returned to Palmyra and we are providing them with all necessary services. Other residents will also gradually return," Mahmud said.

He noted that another 200 families were ready to return but could not do so, as IS terrorists were blocking the road.

"We thank Russia headed by President [Vladimir] Putin and our army headed by President [Bashar] Assad for the liberation of Palmyra from these terrorists that had been devastating everything in our city," Mahmud said.

Local resident Abud Saleh echoed Mahmud's words, saying that security had returned to Palmyra with the city lifting its head again.

TOUGH TIMES FOR DOCTORS

"Life started to return to its normal course gradually owing to the help of local residents. Even the hospital is open again," a director of the local hospital said.

The medical care is still free despite the fact that there are only 16 beds in the hospital instead of 100 before the war. The destroyed buildings of the hospital are being rebuilt and the emergency aid service is accessible for local residents.

"The involvement of Russian forces along with Syrian troops restored security in the city," the hospital’s director said.

DARK TIMES BEHIND

"Palmyra witnessed dark times during the IS militants’ invasion," Mohamed Asaad, the son of famous archaeologist Khaled Asaad, said.

He noted that Russia had played an active role in saving the city. He said that the situation in the city was stable: three new schools had been opened, drinking water had become accessible and electricity was being restored.

Asaad pointed out that Syrian military and their Russian allies sacrificed their lives to help the city.

"God willing, roses will blossom where they spilled their blood," he added.