80.000 people have returned to Daraya city in Damascus Countryside

The city of Daraya in Damascus countryside is witnessing today a remarkable economic movement as services have returned to it, according to a report published on Sunday by the Syrian News Agency (SANA).

The agency reported that the rise in the number restaurants, clinics, pharmacies, lawyers’ offices and shops in the city reflects what has been accomplished during the past two years in that area where terrorism wreaked havoc and destruction throughout the years of the war on Syria.

Mahmoud Samra, owner of food store, said in a statement to SANA: “The city is currently witnessing a good movement, and within a short period of time, commercial and economic business will bloom as it was before, especially after ensuring the necessary infrastructure and services for its residents.”

Alternative energy system was available at the markets of Daraya because the residents began to depend on it in the light of the electricity outage, according to Bashar Barakat Khulani, owner of a shop that sells solar panels.

Mohammad Khair Kokash, who works in a shop for buying and selling mobile phones said “The buying and selling are much better compared to last year.”

As for transportation, Ahmed Najjar, a microbus driver from Damascus to Daraya and vice-versa , said that he has started working since the people have started to return to Daraya

for his part, Head of the local council in the city of Daraya, Marwan Obeid, said that the work continues in the city on a daily basis to provide basic services and infrastructure, including sanitation, electricity and water, in parallel with the return of various government and service institutions, which has contributed to the return of about 80.000 people so far, and the economic and agricultural activities and the shops and crafts are improving, and there are currently 400 shops, and the number has been increasing.

Obeid praised the partnership and cooperation between the economic activities, the people and the local council, which have resulted in the completion of many works, all of which have served the citizen and the return of normal life to the city.

In August 2016, the Syrian army liberated Daraya city from terrorist groups.  

Basma Qaddour