By Fatima Khaled
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – Hamood al-Ahmad believes that the urban development in Raqqa Governorate, north Syria, is not at the required level, as it has progressed in some aspects while remaining stagnant in others.
On the sixth anniversary of the expulsion of the Islamic State (ISIS) from Raqqa, al-Ahmad, a consulting engineer at the Engineers Syndicate in Raqqa, told North Press that the city still suffers from a partial paralysis in its reconstruction process.
During the battle to drive out the extremist group, Raqqa experienced significant destruction, with approximately 80 percent of the city destroyed by airstrikes and around 10,000 bombs dropped by the US-led Global Coalition. Reports indicate that the city was considered the alleged capital of the group.
According to a report by Amnesty International published in 2020, Raqqa is widely recognized as one of the most heavily damaged cities in recent history.
According to UN figures, between February and October 2017, around 11,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged, including eight hospitals, 29 mosques, over 40 schools, five universities, and the city’s irrigation system.
ISIS lost its final stronghold in Syria in March 2019. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with the support of the Global Coalition, defeated ISIS after fierce battles in the town of Baghuz in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, bringing an end to the so-called caliphate declared by the terrorist ISIS.
Superficial Reconstruction
When someone from another city visits Raqqa, they are immediately struck by the sight of modern buildings and a well-developed urban landscape. The city’s attention to external aesthetics is evident, with eye-catching architectural designs.
Despite significant construction efforts in Raqqa, signs of destruction are pervasive throughout the city. It is rare to find a neighborhood or district that does not bear the scars of ruin, collapsed ceilings, and general devastation.
Al-Ahmad said that there are two sectors involved in the reconstruction. The first sector is associated with private entities, mostly owned by the residents of Raqqa whose homes were destroyed during the war. This sector has witnessed advanced urban development, represented by a number of modern buildings with a modern architectural style that has “added a beautiful touch to the city.”
The second sector is overseen by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), but unfortunately, it faces numerous challenges and setbacks in areas such as building repairs, rehabilitation, and infrastructure restoration, he further said.
Al-Ahmad strongly believes that there is a noticeable deficiency on the part of the AANES in the reconstruction efforts in Raqqa. This deficiency is evident in the provision of inadequate services, such as the ongoing lack of repair for the electricity network, which remains destroyed. As a result, residents are compelled to rely on alternative networks to meet their energy needs.
Certain neighborhoods in Raqqa still lack electricity, despite six years passing since the expulsion of ISIS and the establishment of the Civil Council of Raqqa in April 2017.
A report requested by the Pentagon revealed that the US military could have minimized the damage inflicted on civilians during the battles in Raqqa in 2017.
In addition to the electricity deficiency, residents of multi-story buildings in the city struggle to obtain water in their homes due to water interruptions and shortages, despite Raqqa being located on the Euphrates River, according to al-Ahmad.
“Raqqa is currently in a stage of stability after six years of liberation,” he noted. However, he believes that it should be better than that. For example, temporary iron bridges are still being used instead of permanent cement bridges that should serve the area.
Siege
Al-Ahmad highlights that the primary obstacle to the reconstruction process in Raqqa over the past two years has been the economic blockade imposed on the AANES. This blockade has resulted in a significant increase in the prices of construction materials, leading numerous residents and private construction companies to suspend their building projects.
The US has imposed economic sanctions on Syria known as the Caesar Act, aimed at preventing foreign business activities from cooperating with the Syrian government.
The Caesar Act has prevented many humanitarian organizations and investment companies from operating in Syria due to the fear of being subjected to sanctions. As a result, the residents of Raqqa are facing significant challenges in their efforts to rebuild and restore their infrastructure.
In May 2022, the US Treasury Department granted exemptions from the Caesar Act to specific areas in northern Syria. These exemptions encompassed sectors such as agriculture, telecommunications, electricity infrastructure, finance, renewable energy, transportation, shipment, storage, water and waste management, healthcare, education, manufacturing, trade, and oil-related transactions.
The regions exempted under the Caesar Act were divided into four sectors, which included the central areas of Raqqa, Tabqa, and Ain Issa. It is important to note that these exemptions did not included government-held areas.
However, according to Ali al-Sayer, a contractor in Raqqa, the economic blockade imposed on the region has badly affected them. The prices of construction materials have risen significantly.
He told North Press that the closure of crossings has resulted in a halt in construction activities and has significantly impacted their work as contractors and owners of private construction companies, as well as the public sector.
According to al-Sayer, urban development in Raqqa is divided between the private and public sectors, with a 40 percent ratio, which he considers positive. However, he notes that it still lacks certain aspects.
He said that the economic siege on the region leads to an increase in the prices of construction materials, as well as other essential items in the medical, food, and other sectors.
He further added that the political and economic blockade imposed on the region has prevented the implementation of the exemption issued by the US Treasury. As a result, the region has experienced shortages of certain goods for months.
In May 2022, the Semalka-Faysh Khabour border crossing between northeastern Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) was closed, resulting in a significant increase in prices for construction materials, food items, and other goods, reaching multiples of their previous costs.
Insufficient efforts
Sa’ed Seraj, a civil activist from Raqqa, said that despite six years of “liberation”, the AANES cannot be considered new, and the city should have experienced significant improvement by now.
He emphasizes that the residents of Raqqa face obstacles in rebuilding their city due to insufficient dedicated efforts and resources.
Moreover, international organizations and civil society groups primarily focus on empowerment and community cohesion, neglecting the crucial aspect of infrastructure reconstruction, which is essential for the city’s progress, according to Seraj.
The outflow of both capital and skilled individuals abroad has further impeded the reconstruction efforts in Raqqa, as the city has witnessed a significant brain drain.
Seraj believes that the available funds should be genuinely utilized for the reconstruction process, rather than being wasted on less essential endeavors like car trading.
The entry of “European” cars into the region contributes to what is known as capital flight, which significantly drains the region of its financial resources. These resources could have been utilized for developmental projects to stimulate the region’s economy.
The migration of individuals also has an impact on business reestablishment and the economy, as residents are forced to sell their homes and assets and send cash to neighboring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, or Algeria.
According to Seraj, several projects in Raqqa and northeast Syria serve the region, such as restoring bridges and road paving projects, while others fail to meet the real needs of the people, such as civil society initiatives like constructing a park on the riverbank and others.
The US sanctions on Syria have had a noticeable impact. Despite the exemption granted to the region, it has not helped with reconstruction efforts or achieved the desired goals, he said.
Economically, the region has not experienced any revitalization or recovery. On the contrary, the situation has remained stagnant, additionally, the exchange rate of the US dollar and the Syrian pound reaching high levels and continuing to rise, he concluded.
Need more international efforts
Abdulsalam Hamsaurk, the former Co-chair of the Raqqa Civil Council, agrees that despite the exemption of northeast Syria from the Caesar Acts, international companies have not entered the region.
He attributes this to the ongoing Turkish attacks in the area and the continuous fluctuations in the exchange rate of the US dollar, which have significantly affected northeast Syria.
According to Hamsaurk, there is still a significant need for various services across different sectors in Raqqa. He observed that the pace of reconstruction in Raqqa differs among sectors, with some sectors experiencing rebuilding progress ranging from 60 to 90 percent. However, no sectors have been fully restored.
Since Raqqa was the capital of the ISIS group during its control, some sectors have suffered complete destruction, reaching 100 percent damage, such as the electricity sector, according to Hamsaurk.
The official emphasized that they still need a lot of effort and support to rebuild Raqqa from scratch.
Hamsaurk made his statement while attending the opening of al-Rashid School in Raqqa. The school was completely destroyed but was rebuilt by the Education Committee, affiliated with the AANES. Hamsaurk mentioned that schools are essential part of the reconstruction projects, especially since ISIS had used them as their headquarters.
He stated that there has been a recent reduction in support from NGOs, which hinders the reconstruction efforts, including the restoration of factories and agricultural facilities like the sugar factory and others.