Al-Baghouz – North-Press Agency
Jindar Abdulqader
The heads of tribes and residents of the town of al-Baghouz east of Deir ez-Zor, which was the last stronghold of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria before its defeat in March 2019, complain about the situation of almost complete lack of services in their town in light of the lack of support to restore life to normal. This is despite the passage of more than a year since (ISIS) was expelled from the town.
The small town, which gained international fame, witnessed damage to the infrastructure after battles led by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with air support from the Global Coalition, to expel the ISIS militants entrenched in their last stronghold.
Hawas Der Abu Jassem, one of al-Baghouz’s most prominent figures, said in an interview with North-Press that the war in al-Baghouz totally or partially destroyed about 1,200 houses, from a total of 3,500 in the town.
Abu Jassem indicates, according to statistics conducted by residents inside the town, that about 3.5 million citrus, olive, and palm trees were burned and destroyed due to the battles and lack of water as a result of the population’s displacement.
According to local residents, the war destroyed more than 300 agricultural pumps bringing water from the Euphrates River to cultivated lands, which led to a noticeable loss in the agricultural sector, which the residents consider their "main lifeline.”
On March 23rd last year, the SDF announced during a press conference in the Omari oil field the elimination of ISIS’s military presence, after thousands of their members and leaders surrendered along with their families.
The residents of al-Baghouz returned to their town in the middle of last year only to find it nearly destroyed. All roads, electrical, water, and sewage networks, telephone lines, and health and educational facilities were damaged.
Abu Jassem adds that about 18,000 people have returned to the town since ISIS was expelled, suffering in the absence of living facilities inside the town.
Al-Baghouz included 10 schools for various educational levels before the Syrian war began, but now it contains only one school, which indicates the extent of the destruction that took place in the town.
Some still consider al-Baghouz a "dangerous area", as it housed ISIS militants for years, which is something rejected by Hawas Abu Jassem. He affirms that "there is complete harmony between the tribes, without any significant problems."
Abu Jassem notes that the "media's negative propaganda" makes the region outside the concerns of international organizations concerned with development, health and relief, therefore, these organizations refuse to provide the necessary services to the population.
Abu Jassem calls on the Global Coalition and the Autonomous Administration to provide support for the reconstruction of the area from Hajin to al-Baghouz, as it was one of the areas most affected by the war.
On the other hand, some people describe life in the al-Baghouz as "very bad" about a year after their return, as electricity and water still does not meet the residents’ needs.
Muhammad Mousa al-Zoghaib, a prominent figure in the town, says the organizations and institutions operating in al-Baghouz "do not provide any services because they did not receive any support from the Deir ez-Zor Council. People's homes were destroyed, and no compensation was provided by any party."
Al-Zoghaib indicates that the health sector is completely inactive, so residents are forced to go to the town of Hajin, adjacent to al-Baghouz, in cases of emergency.