Feature: Syrians in Douma on track to regain normal living after liberation

As Douma district was the major stronghold for the rebels in the Eastern Ghouta countryside of the Syrian capital Damascus, people there had to give up not only their normal lives but also their jobs.

However, after the long and winding years of war in the district ended in April of 2018, local residents gradually started to regain their normal living, enjoying their return under the government rule.

The dust and destruction in Douma are still seen on the first anniversary of its liberation, but people are now leading their lives with determination to fully restore their lives.

Muhammad Sraiwel, 40, was busy arranging the bread and biscuits in his small bakery, from which the delicious whiff attracted many customers.

Sraiwel reopened his shop after the Syrian army entered Douma last April, before which Douma had been suffering a tough humanitarian situation with the scarcity of all basic life materials.

"When the Syrian army entered Douma last April, the basic materials reached our area, such as wheat, bread, sugar and salt, all legally in official prices," he said.

The man highlighted the very high prices the rebels were charging for basic materials including sugar and rice, let alone the wheat needed for the bakeries.

During the time, he had to change his profession to work in industries such as electrical batteries and LED lights as making bread and biscuits was impossible under those circumstances.

"Our situation was so desperate without food, bread, drinks, and all life necessities were absent," the Syrian man recalled.

"Now the situation has changed completely as everything is available and the prices are normal, thank God," he said.

The construction in Douma is another hard-hit sector during the conflict.

Kazem Shahoud, a construction worker, told Xinhua that during the long years of war he was basically jobless as no construction was needed.

Now, he has come back to his old job amid high demand for fixing homes and buildings from the returnees.

"Before the liberation of Douma, I was jobless not knowing what I would do. But after the liberation ... everything is available as people are returning to fix their homes with the availability of the construction materials," Shahoud told Xinhua.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)