Syrians Cautiously Resume Daily Activities As Fragile Ceasefire Holds
In Syria, a U.S.- and Russia-backed cessation of hostilities has reached the one-week mark, ushering in a period of unprecedented calm, despite violations. Battles simmer, but punitive airstrikes are few and are concentrated near the front lines. Civilians have resumed activities they'd long since abandoned, from visiting friends to — once again — protesting in the streets.
Hundreds rallied on Friday in the streets of the Syrian town of Kafranbel, a sight not seen in years. Similar rallies have cropped up from Aleppo to the Damascus suburbs, with people once again calling for the fall of the Assad regime.
Syrian photographer Malek Refaie, reached in his rebel-held Damascus suburb via the Internet, says he hadn't seen a big street protest in more than three years. That was when his suburb, Daraya, came under a crippling government siege.
In the years since, the fight to survive daily bombardments and secure the next meal took precedence over all else. Refaie, 23, says residents didn't believe the bombing could ever really stop.
Syrian men and children wait to receive vaccinations at the Syrian Arab Red Crescent center in the rebel-held town of Douma, on the eastern edges of Damascus, on Thursday. The vaccines were part of the first batch of aid delivered to areas in need of assistance since the start of Syria's ceasefire.
"The day before the truce, Daraya had 76 barrel bombs," he says. "To get zero the next day was a breakthrough, like a miracle."
For the children of Daraya, the truce means they can go back to school and enjoy a semblance of a normal schedule.
In a video filmed by activists, young students sing a patriotic song at a school celebration on Wednesday. A local leader thanks the teachers for staying committed to the school. Children squirm in their seats, dressed in their best clothes.
Refaie says before the truce, kids were going to school one hour a day, two hours maximum. They'd start at dawn, before the barrel bombs began to rain down.
During the worst times, he says, classes were canceled for weeks on end. But during the truce, classes have been held every day from 7 in the morning to noon.
For Refaie, a return to simple pleasures, like getting together with friends, means a great deal. He and his friends played a card game Thursday night. He recorded it on his phone to give an idea of the mood. They're laughing.
Refaie says Daraya residents are still waiting for promised international aid. In the past week, U.N. convoys delivered supplies to multiple besieged areas, but not Daraya.
Meanwhile, some are starting to make household repairs that were long seen as pointless. Most people who live in first-floor apartments or one-story traditional Arabic homes feared for their lives because of the shelling and airstrikes, Refaie says, so they moved into basements. Now they feel safe enough to start checking on their homes.
But not everyone is expressing relief. A young mother in the Damascus suburb of Douma says via Facebook there were new airstrikes Friday morning, with new victims. Others speak of hurried trips to the market, not entirely trusting the calm.
Early Friday, Refaie says he saw a warplane return to the skies. The sight made him anxious, but it didn't bomb.
9(MDE1MTIxMDg0MDE0MDQ3NTY3MzkzMzY1NA001))
Transcript
LOURDES GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST:
In Syria, a tenuous cease-fire has reached the one-week mark. There have been sporadic airstrikes and dozens have been killed in fighting within truce zone. But violence is way down. And for the most part, the cease-fire has held. Civilians in areas opposed to the regime have used the unusual calm to venture outside. Many are taking to the street. NPR's Alison Meuse reports from Beirut.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: (Shouting in foreign language).
ALISON MEUSE, BYLINE: Activist footage shows hundreds rallying Friday in the streets of the Syrian town Kafranbel, a sight not seen in years. Similar rallies have cropped up across the rebel-held areas with people once again calling for the fall of the regime. They've been enabled by a week-old partial cease-fire negotiated by the regime's ally, Russia and the U.S. Battles simmer but airstrikes are few and concentrated near the front lines. Long besieged towns are getting some relief, like the Damascus suburb of Daraya. Three years ago, it came under a crippling government siege and has faced relentless attack by barrel bombs, indiscriminate explosives dropped from regime helicopters. Protests dwindled amid the bombing and the struggle to find the next meal. Syrian photographer Malek Refaie, reached via Internet, lives in Daraya. He says residents didn't believe the bombing could really stop.
MALEK REFAIE: (Through interpreter) The day before the truce, Daraya had 76 barrel bombs. To get zero the next day was a breakthrough, like a miracle.
MEUSE: For the children of Daraya, the truce meant going back to school and a semblance of a normal schedule.
(SOUNDBITE OF VIDEO)
UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: (Singing in foreign language).
MEUSE: In a video filmed by activists, young students sing a patriotic song at a school party on Wednesday.
(SOUNDBITE OF VIDEO)
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: (Foreign language spoken).
MEUSE: A local leader thanks the teachers for not abandoning the school. Children squirm in their seats, dressed in their best clothes. But Refaie, the photographer, says before the truce, kids were going to school maximum two hours a day. They'd start at dawn, before the airstrikes began.
REFAIE: (Foreign language spoken).
MEUSE: He says during the worst spells, class would be canceled for weeks on end. But during the truce, they've had classes each day from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. For the 23-year-old Refaie, a return to simple pleasures means a great deal.
(SOUNDBITE OF VIDEO)
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: (Laughter).
MEUSE: That's the sound of he and his friends playing a dice and card game Thursday night. He recorded it for me on his phone to give an idea of the mood. Refaie says Daraya residents are still waiting for promised international aid. In the past week, U.N. convoys delivered supplies to multiple besieged areas but not Daraya. On the other hand, people are starting to make home repairs long seen as pointless.
REFAIE: (Through interpreter) Most people who lived in first floor apartments or traditional Arabic homes feared for their lives because of the shelling and airstrikes, so they moved into the basements. Now those people are checking on their homes.
MEUSE: Not everyone is expressing relief. A young mother in another Damascus suburb tells me over Facebook there were new airstrikes Friday morning with new victims. Others speak of hurried trips to the market, still anxious the bombing could resume any time. Refaie tells me Friday he was frightened to see a warplane pass overhead. But it didn't drop any bombs. Alison Meuse, NPR News, Beirut. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad