Relentless efforts to rebuild and rehabilitate Aleppo old markets

The old markets of Aleppo have been witnessing a large scale restoration and rehabilitation campaign with the aim of restoring life to Aleppo old city which terrorism has destroyed a major part of.

Sweiqat Hatem market is one of the examples where restoration works by skillful local experts, technicians and engineers, are active to maintain its architectural identity.

Ahmad Al-Shehabi, Director of Old Aleppo City Council, told SANA reporter that restoration and rehabilitation works in Sweiqat Hatem market involves 150 shops and a number of khans.

 Household appliances, kitchen equipment, cosmetics, and decorative accessories used to be sold in this market, which is one of the most important unroofed commercial markets.

Al-Shehabi said that a number of traders and keepers of destroyed shops in this market were given necessary licenses to restore their shops and facilities and they managed to rehabilitate their places and start work again, while some other shopkeepers are working relentlessly to rebuild their facilities.

He added that some trade khans also continue to be restored, including Khan Al-Badinkji and Khan Mousa Al-Araj in addition to several old mosques.

One of the shop keepers, who previously left his residence and work place because of terrorism, said that he was so happy for returning to the market to rehabilitate his shop in preparation for reopening it.

He urged all traders to return to their shops and start restoring them in order to revive the market.

Hamda Mustafa