Deir Ezzor – Obadah al-Sheikh

The initiative of the sons and activists of the city of Muhassan in eastern Deir Ezzor, named “Muhassan is More Beautiful,” is entering its fourth month, supported by the city’s residents both inside and abroad.

The aim of the campaign is to shake off the dust of destruction left by the ousted Assad regime and to revive the city’s neighborhoods, facilitating the return of displaced people to their city, by implementing simple reconstruction works for some essential facilities serving the population.

Journalist Rabea al-Hamidi from Muhassan and one of the campaign organizers stated to Enab Baladi that the campaign has thus far reconstructed three completely destroyed schools, which are now ready to welcome students and provide them with a suitable educational environment.

The campaign succeeded in completely renovating four mosques, which included the installation of solar energy to provide lighting and the installation of water coolers to offer drinking water, in addition to fully renovating the city’s entrance.

During the campaign, streets were illuminated by installing 450 solar-powered lighting units distributed along the main roads in all neighborhoods, contributing to improved safety and security at night, according to al-Hamidi.

A medical point donated by an organization in northern Syria was secured and transported, through Dr. Shadi Martini, and installed in the city to serve the locals and neighboring villages.

Al-Hamidi considered this initiative to be inspiring, expressing hope for continued efforts until all neighborhoods of the city are reconstructed.

Self-funded efforts

Hamoud Abu al-Qasim, another campaign organizer, told Enab Baladi that the campaign contributed to restoring life to the city by installing satellite internet devices to facilitate communication and encourage young people to return from exile, which has accelerated the pace of work and coordination among the teams.

He noted that the efforts of those involved in the campaign overcame several obstacles, including the difficulty of securing labor and poor communication due to weak internet networks.

He added that the campaign relied entirely on the funding and self-efforts of the city’s residents, without any external support from parties or organizations.

He continued that the high spirits and sense of belonging among the residents increased participation and enthusiasm for the success of this initiative.

To ensure the continuity of work and the flow of donations, the team was keen on maintaining honesty, integrity, and meticulousness in all their endeavors.

The results of these efforts have started to become clear, enhancing the trust between the team and the residents, propelling the initiative forward towards achieving its goals, according to al-Qasim.

Muhassan is located 20 kilometers east of Deir Ezzor province on the right bank of the Euphrates River and, like other cities in Deir Ezzor, faced bombing, killings, and displacement at the hands of the former regime.