Rebuilding Mosul - bringing the demolished city back from the dead
  • 7 years ago
After nine months of continued conflict, work has begun to rebuild the iraqi city of Mosul. Many of the residential districts have been heavily damaged, if not completely flattened.

With the economy also in ruins, some businessmen don’t want to wait for the possibility of financial support – they have started to repair their shops and restaurants with their own money.

ADEL MAHMOUD – RESIDENT OF WEST MOSUL AND OWNER OF BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION,

“We place responsibility on the central government and on the international community because they are not providing support to this destroyed city that is inhabited by more than 4 million people. Its people are displaced and are living in camps, their homes have been destroyed, there is no employment. As for me, in my area, I am reconstructing my shop at my own expense.”

0.45 CONSTRUCTION, MAN PREPARING BREAD AT MAKESHIFT RESTAURANT

A lack of essential services such as running water, power lines and sewage systems has deterred many from returning, but Kathem Hussein, who opened this makeshift restaurant serving locals, said life was back to normal and people should come back.

KATHEM HUSSEIN, mosul resident

“The situation is good, thank God. But we hope that water and electricity will be reinstated, and we ask the people currently in the east to come back here. Life is back to normal.”

1.13 VARIOUS OF PEOPLE EATING AT RESTAURANT, MAN SERVING TEA, MAN DRINKING TEA, EXTERIOR OF MAKESHIFT RESTAURANT

Before the war, Mosul was Iraq’s second-largest city, known for its ethnic and religious diversity. The battel to take Mosul back may have been won, but the battle to rebuild is only just beginning.
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