Al-Bab residents who returned to their homes after Turkey-backed forces liberated city from Daesh work to rebuild ithttps://t.co/u7fzZ6iReK pic.twitter.com/m2nC5IqYcP
— DAILY SABAH (@DailySabah) March 27, 2017
The residents of Syria's northern city of al-Bab, which has been recently liberated from the Daesh terror organization by the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA), have been busy bringing the town back to its former state since local residents began returning to the city in mid-February.
The city's population, which fell to nearly 20,000 under Daesh control, has risen to around 80,000.
According to an Anadolu Agency reporter in the area, the city of al-Bab resembles a massive construction site.
Among those who have returned is Sherif Konli, who lost two relatives in the fight against Daesh.
Speaking to the Anadolu Agency, Konli said, "We are rebuilding our homes. I hope al-Bab will see better days and we will live a more peaceful and free life."
Another resident, who has nearly completed the reconstruction of his home after it was destroyed under Daesh control, Ahmed Bushi said that he and his family are staying at a neighbor's house until construction work is completed on his home.
Daesh terrorists seized most of their furniture and goods and, according to Bushi, his home was previously destroyed in an aerial attack.
"My only consolation is that we are still alive; property can be built again," Bushi said.
"Al-Bab will see its old days again," he said, expressing his gratitude for the FSA which also helped civilians fix the city's infrastructure after the terrorists were driven out.
Turkey has also given all kinds of support to the people of al-Bab to help normalize life in the town and to ensure residents can safely return to their homes.
Turkish Red Crescent's President Kerem Kınık said in a recent interview that nearly 75,000 people were living in the al-Bab area.
"Almost 60 percent of al-Bab was heavily destroyed. Turkey will provide support in various areas like education, health, humanitarian aid and municipal works to help daily life return to normal and to remove the rubble," Kınık said.
Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield on Aug. 24 last year in aims to eliminate the terror threat on Turkey's southern borders posed by Daesh and the PKK terrorist organization's Syrian offshoots, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG).
