Hundreds of Reconstruction Projects Carried out in Syria in 2021 Despite Difficulties and Challenges

The year 2021 has witnessed the implementation of hundreds of reconstruction projects in several sectors in Syria despite the challenges and obstacles that face the process, mainly the acute economic crisis the country is going through besides the western sanctions imposed on the people of Syria.

These projects were mentioned in the annual report released on Thursday by the Ministry of Local Administration.

The report said: “The ministry carried out 1262 rehabilitation projects and it now supervises the rehabilitation of 17 hospitals, 37 health centers and 19 cultural centers.”

It added that 6502 houses, 109 hospitals and health centers, 20 bakeries, 406 shops, 10 public buildings, 21 citizen service centers, 19 cultural centers and 19 stations, which were destroyed by terrorism, were rehabilitated within the framework of humanitarian response plan.

The rehabilitation of houses and infrastructures has helped ten of thousands of people to return to their areas that were liberated from terrorist groups several years ago.

In August 2021, the Syria Times reported:

-80.000 people have returned to Daraya city in Damascus Countryside(http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/economy/57221-80-000-people-have-returned-to-daraya-city-in-damascus-countryside).

-60,000 people have returned to Al-Mayadeen city in Deir Ezzour due to the return of basic services there (http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/economy/57278-basic-services-and-60-000-people-have-returned-to-al-mayadeen-city-in-deir-ezzour).

-75.000 people have returned to their houses in liberated towns in Deir Ezzour province(http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/economy/56751-75-000-people-have-returned-to-their-houses-in-liberated-towns-in-der-ezzour-province)

-The return of Al-Zara people to their homes, after years of displacement due to terrorism(http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/economy/56710-return-of-al-zara-people-to-their-homes-after-years-of-displacement-due-to-terrorism)

2761 schools rehabilitated
The return of people to their areas necessitated the rehabilitation of schools to help school children, who returned with their families to continue their education.

“The city of Douma in Damascus Countryside is gradually regaining the map of its schools with governmental and civil efforts. With the return of security and safety to it three years ago, work to rehabilitate schools started in preparation for the return of locals, bringing the number of qualified schools in it today to 22 completed and 5 schools in their final stages,” the “SyriaTimes” e-newspaper said in an article published in August (http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/economy/57578-douma-gradually-regains-its-schools-with-government-and-private-efforts)

The e-newspaper also pointed out that:

-13 schools have been rehabilitated in Nabk area in Damascus countryside(http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/economy/57409-13-schools-have-been-rehabilitated-in-nabk-area-in-damascus-countryside).

-3 schools were rehabilitated in the liberated southern countryside of Idlib(http://www.syriatimes.sy/index.php/economy/53538-3-schools-are-rehabilitated-in-the-liberated-southern-countryside-of-idlib).

The Ministry of Education posted on its Facebook account on December, 28, 2021, that it rehabilitated 2761 schools through investment plan, international organizations and reconstruction plan. It clarified that 169 schools were rehabilitated while 6 ones are still under reconstruction in the provinces of Damascus, Damascus Countryside, Daraa, Sweida, Hama, Homs, Lattakia, Quneitra, Idlib and Hasakah, Alepoo, Raqqaand Deir Ezzour.

Most court buildings and judicial complexes rehabilitated
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice has completed the rehabilitation of most court buildings and judicial complexes that have been subjected to vandalism and destruction as a result of terrorism, and is working to implement projects for new judicial complex buildings and the creation of new courts in the governorates (http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/economy/57597-most-of-the-judicial-buildings-damaged-by-terrorism-are-rehabilitated).

The value of investment in industrial cities SYP. 117.158 billion
As for the industrial sector, the value of investments in the industrial cities of Adra, Hasya’a and Al-Sheikh Najjar hit 117.158 billion Syrian pounds, and the number of facilities that are manufacturing different types of products in these cities reached 519 ones. However, the number of factories that are under reconstruction is 206 .

43 development projects were carried out this year in the provinces of Damascus, Damascus countryside, Idlib, Lattakia, Tartous, Homs, Hama, Deir Ezzour, Hasaka, Raqqa and Sweida, according to the report of the Local Administration Ministry.

In this context, the “SyriaTimes” e-newspaper reported:

– 27 industrial facilities were put into service in Daraa in 3 months(http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/economy/58832-27-industrial-facilities-put-into-service-in-daraa-in-3-months).

-193 craft and industrial facilities were opened in Tartous since the beginning of the year(http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/economy/58274-193-craft-and-industrial-facilities-opened-in-tartous-since-the-beginning-of-the-year).

– 13,989 craft workshops and 4,611 industrial factories resume production in Aleppo(http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/economy/56910-13-989-craft-workshops-and-4-611-industrial-factories-resume-production-in-aleppo).

-Old Aleppo regained its pulse, Khan al-Harir market and Pistachio Square opened after their rehabilitation(http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/economy/57594-old-aleppo-regains-its-pulse-khan-al-harir-market-and-pistachio-square-open-after-their-rehabilitation)

Other important events that took place are:
-50% of the electrical interconnection line with Jordan were repaired.

-The Jaber-Nassib border crossing with Syria was reopened.

-Syria participated in Expo 2020 Dubai.

In an article published by the French “Le Monde” newspaper in March, 2021, about the reconstruction process in Syria after 10 years of terror war, it was said that terrorism destroyed one third of infrastructure, 7% of houses and 70% of power, fuel and water networks, and damaged one in three schools, 20% of houses and 50% of hospitals and clinics.

These numbers affirm the need for more than $260- $400 billion to rebuild the country, according to reports published in early 2019.

But the reports said no single word about the determination of the Syrians to rebuild their country to go on with their life.

Featured image: File photo

(Syria Times)