Monday, February 20, 2012

Q&A: Nir Rosen on daily life in Syria



Journalist who recently spent time travelling the country describes what life is like for the people he met.

"Journalist Nir Rosen recently spent two months in Syria. As well as meeting members of various communities across the country - supporters of the country's rulers and of the opposition alike - he spent time with armed resistance groups in Homs, Idlib, Deraa, and Damascus suburbs. He also travelled extensively around the country last year, documenting his experiences for Al Jazeera.

This is the fourth in a series of interviews he gave to Al Jazeera since his return. Catch up by reading his comments on Syria's armed opposition , the country's protest movement, and sectarianism in Syria.

Al Jazeera: State media continues to air footage from Damascus and Aleppo showing calm residential areas and busy downtown districts. Are the country’s two main cities unaffected by the unrest?....

AJ: What is the situation in the Damascus suburbs and how does this affect residents in Damascus city?....

AJ: What is the most dangerous place in Syria?....

AJ: What is the situation in opposition strongholds?....

Electricity is off for most of the day or even for most of the past few months. Children have not been to school for months in opposition strongholds. In such places, entire communities are engaged in rebellion and survival.

Thousands of families have had to flee - either temporarily or permanently - to safer areas, because they are on the front lines. Their homes or apartment buildings may have been damaged or destroyed in the fighting. There is a process of separation of the sects taking place as well, with suspicion and intimidation of the "other" who can no longer be trusted.

In much of Homs, Deraa and other towns or villages there are many neighbourhoods that appear deserted.....

AJ: Have the violence and sanctions imposed on Bashar al-Assad’s government affected the country’s economy?....

Moreover, both Iran and Iraq have pledged billions of dollars to Syria just for this year and have opened their borders for Syrian goods. The only limit to Syrian exports to Iraq now is the capacity of Syrian factories in Aleppo. Iran exempted Syrian goods from 60 per cent of import duties. In effect, they are creating a hastily drawn common market. Still, many businessmen in Aleppo complain that they can only survive a few more months before they have to fire their workers. It is costing the regime support because they are losing faith that Assad can get them out of this mess.....

AJ: How has the uprising divided or unified people?...."

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