Completion of the third phase of rehabilitating the old markets of Homs

Homs, (ST)-The Directorate of Antiquities in Homs Governorate has completed the third phase of the rehabilitation and restoration project of the old city markets, which have been damaged by terrorist attacks.

Homs Archaeological Director, Eng. Hossam Hamish said: “the project is being implemented by  Homs governorate in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The third phase included the rehabilitation of 80 % of the old market block with the roofing of the main streets”, pointing out that the number of markets’ shops amount to 892 with an area of 45 thousand square meters, some of them have been completely rebuilt taking into consideration their archaeological and historical status such as the stone facades and restoring the demolished stones.

He went on to say that the fourth phase, if completed, will include rehabilitating  the remaining markets as well as some of the surrounding streets such as Al Qasimi and Al Niswan streets, stressing that the return of shop owners will have a positive impact on the economic movement.

“The Directorate had started in cooperation with the Homs City Council to restore and rebuild the fence in Al-Arba’een neighborhood, which was affected by terrorist attacks, stressing that the restoration of this wall and the two towers located in the north and west of the fence will end early 2020,” Hamish stressed.

“The directorate also completed partial rehabilitation of some guard rooms in the National Museum of Palmyra. It also submitted several projects to the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in Damascus to study the possibility of implementing them, including finishing the rehabilitation of the Al-Zahrawi Palace and the House of Mofeed al-Amin and the restoration of the blocked door in the Turkmen neighborhood in addition to  a study to reopen Homs Museum, especially that the necessary procedures and the restoration work have been completed to secure private warehouses to secure artifacts within it,” Mr. Hamish concluded.

Amal Farhat- Homs