Latest from Zeina Shahla
A Joyless Ramadan in War-Torn Syria
Each year, we are reminded to brace ourselves for the most challenging Ramadan yet. With the gradual deterioration of living conditions for all Syrians, many find themselves unable to partake in the cherished religious and social rituals as they would wish, despite their profound and joyful significance. The economic analysis, coupled with our lived experiences, indicate that this year is indeed the most difficult yet.
Aleppo Residents Pick Through the Wreckage of Their Earthquake-Shattered Lives
It would not be easy to draw a simple line differentiating between the physical, material and psychological destruction wrought by the earthquake and the war that has lasted for 12 years, after a few hours touring the city’s neighborhoods, especially its eastern districts. The two events intertwine in an intractable way. “Not one disaster but two,” was a common refrain I heard from residents of Aleppo when describing what had happened to their city.