52 images Created 27 Mar 2013
SYRIA: Survival in embattled Deir az-Zor
Deir az-Zor after months of heavy fighting in town.
About 15.000 remain or returned inhabitants actually living in Deir az-Zor depend on only one supply line across the bombed Ganamat brigde stretching over a sidearm of Euphrates river. The bridge is under regular sniper fire and target to shelling what makes crossing a dangerous attempt. It´s a very important spot for survival in Deir az-Zor. Just beside the bridge locals operate a little boat to deliver a few tons of wheat on a daily basis to bakeries.
Entering Deir az-Zor people have to deal with several sniper alleys (roads in sight of regime-loyal snipers) in town where they have to run for cover to reach the other side unharmed.
Neighbourhood and local initiatives did start to remove garbage from streets at places where fightings recently came to an end.
Residents butcher a bull on a street while a group of voluteers cook for a soup kitchen offering a daily free meal to 150 families in their neighbourhood. People also line up to receive their daily ration of bread by ration card at a distribution point.
Another local nighboughhood initiative recycles former pro-Baath and pro-Assad banners and posters in a carpentry to produce stretchers and crutches for wounded fellows. They give it away for free to those in need.
An empty building is used to teach about 80 pupils two hours a day. Using books and material from bombed out schools this makeshift school runs only by voluteers.
In a renovated basement hall both media activists and student groups meet up often to debate relief projects or social and political issues. The center offers access to all civic groups in Deir az-Zor to held meeting and dicussions. Regular cultural events are also offered for all, including children, teenager and women.
A makeshift nursing home for the elderly tries to provide a safe place to stay and to live for those retired men and women having nobody else to make their living.
At the Al-Noor hospital staff fights day by day for lives of residents wounded by snipers or shelling. People donate blood and even some passionate teenagers volunteer to support doctors and nurses.
A student regulary shows up on a former playground which nowadays serves as a cemetery. He registers and documents new graves, victim names and detailed locations of graves for later moves to another grave after the war.
About 15.000 remain or returned inhabitants actually living in Deir az-Zor depend on only one supply line across the bombed Ganamat brigde stretching over a sidearm of Euphrates river. The bridge is under regular sniper fire and target to shelling what makes crossing a dangerous attempt. It´s a very important spot for survival in Deir az-Zor. Just beside the bridge locals operate a little boat to deliver a few tons of wheat on a daily basis to bakeries.
Entering Deir az-Zor people have to deal with several sniper alleys (roads in sight of regime-loyal snipers) in town where they have to run for cover to reach the other side unharmed.
Neighbourhood and local initiatives did start to remove garbage from streets at places where fightings recently came to an end.
Residents butcher a bull on a street while a group of voluteers cook for a soup kitchen offering a daily free meal to 150 families in their neighbourhood. People also line up to receive their daily ration of bread by ration card at a distribution point.
Another local nighboughhood initiative recycles former pro-Baath and pro-Assad banners and posters in a carpentry to produce stretchers and crutches for wounded fellows. They give it away for free to those in need.
An empty building is used to teach about 80 pupils two hours a day. Using books and material from bombed out schools this makeshift school runs only by voluteers.
In a renovated basement hall both media activists and student groups meet up often to debate relief projects or social and political issues. The center offers access to all civic groups in Deir az-Zor to held meeting and dicussions. Regular cultural events are also offered for all, including children, teenager and women.
A makeshift nursing home for the elderly tries to provide a safe place to stay and to live for those retired men and women having nobody else to make their living.
At the Al-Noor hospital staff fights day by day for lives of residents wounded by snipers or shelling. People donate blood and even some passionate teenagers volunteer to support doctors and nurses.
A student regulary shows up on a former playground which nowadays serves as a cemetery. He registers and documents new graves, victim names and detailed locations of graves for later moves to another grave after the war.
