Thousands of Syrians Return Home in Damascus' Suburb
DAMASCUS (Dispatches) – Thousands of Syrians started returning home in Daraya, suburb in the southwestern countryside of the capital Damascus on Tuesday, state news agency reported.
The move comes after the Syrian government finished the rehabilitation process of the infrastructure in Daraya, which was recaptured by the Syrian army in 2016.
Since then, people were allowed to enter at specific time to check on their belongings and do reparation before the area was announced ready to receive its people.
A few months ago, volunteers took part in the rehabilitation of schools in Daraya.
The terrorists and their families evacuated Daraya toward terrorist-held areas in northern Syria in 2016 under a deal with the government.
President Assad’s military and its allies regained control of Daraya after years of fighting.
Displaced people were returning after Daraya was "purged of remnants of the terrorists and the main services were reinstated”, state TV said.
State news agency SANA showed pictures of crowds gathering under large government flags and photos of Assad. Behind them, rows of buildings, their windows blown out, appeared pitted with shellholes and showed heavy damage from fighting.
Damascus has described local agreements - accept state rule or leave - as a "workable model to bring security and peace” after more than seven years of war. It says it seeks to restore territory from terrorists so Syrians can return to their hometowns
The United Nations aid chief, Stephen O’Brien, voiced "extreme concern” over the Daraya evacuation at the time it went ahead. But since then several such withdrawal deals have been struck helping the government recapture major cities across Syria.
The United Nations has also said the displaced should be allowed to "return voluntarily, in safety and in dignity”.
People walk among the bombed out ruins of Daraya, carrying their belongings before being evacuated.
The move comes after the Syrian government finished the rehabilitation process of the infrastructure in Daraya, which was recaptured by the Syrian army in 2016.
Since then, people were allowed to enter at specific time to check on their belongings and do reparation before the area was announced ready to receive its people.
A few months ago, volunteers took part in the rehabilitation of schools in Daraya.
The terrorists and their families evacuated Daraya toward terrorist-held areas in northern Syria in 2016 under a deal with the government.
President Assad’s military and its allies regained control of Daraya after years of fighting.
Displaced people were returning after Daraya was "purged of remnants of the terrorists and the main services were reinstated”, state TV said.
State news agency SANA showed pictures of crowds gathering under large government flags and photos of Assad. Behind them, rows of buildings, their windows blown out, appeared pitted with shellholes and showed heavy damage from fighting.
Damascus has described local agreements - accept state rule or leave - as a "workable model to bring security and peace” after more than seven years of war. It says it seeks to restore territory from terrorists so Syrians can return to their hometowns
The United Nations aid chief, Stephen O’Brien, voiced "extreme concern” over the Daraya evacuation at the time it went ahead. But since then several such withdrawal deals have been struck helping the government recapture major cities across Syria.
The United Nations has also said the displaced should be allowed to "return voluntarily, in safety and in dignity”.
People walk among the bombed out ruins of Daraya, carrying their belongings before being evacuated.