In photos: Life resumes in Fallujah despite vast destruction by ISIL

Society

In photos: Life resumes in Fallujah despite vast destruction by ISIL

Displaced residents have started making their way back home amid ongoing efforts to resume services and establish security in the city.

By Diyaruna

2016-12-23

Samir Amis shisha and coffee shop in Fallujah re-opened its doors to customers after more than two years of 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' rule during which the group imposed strict rules on the city, including a ban on smoking. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

A colourful market sells seasonal fruits and vegetables in Fallujah. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Abu Raed al-Halboosi (left), owner of Samir Amis shisha and coffee shop in Fallujah, rehabilitated his shop after it sustained heavy damage during ISIL's rule, and is now serving his customers once more coffee, tea and shisha. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Policemen arm a checkpoint at one of the entrances to Fallujah, searching any vehicles or individuals entering the city to prevent the infiltration of ISIL members. A concrete barrier next to the checkpoint says: "The country that we do not love, we do not deserve." [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Cleaning crews sweep up debris and remnants of war off the streets of Fallujah. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

An Iraqi soldier keeps watch on the streets of Fallujah after the city was liberated from ISIL last June and its residents started returning to their homes. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Electricity crews repair power lines in Fallujah. Public services such as water and access to the national electric grid have been restored in a number of neighbourhoods. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Employees at Fallujah's department of education receive new books for the new school year. Children were left without education for the past two years under ISIL. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Iraqi students at the Fallujah secondary school for girls attend a history class. Students, especially girls in Fallujah, did not receive any proper education during ISIL's rule of their city. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Children from Fallujah's al-Asmai elementary school happily roam the streets as they head home after school. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

The "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) was ousted from Fallujah last June. Since then, displaced families started trickling back into Anbar's second largest city, and government institutions have been working restlessly to resume services and establish security after the vast destruction that ISIL has caused.

Streets are being cleared of explosive remnants of war, markets are open to shoppers again and education has resumed for the children of more than 19,000 families who have returned to their homes .

Many of the aspects of life that ISIL had forbidden, such as smoking shisha, can now be seen again around the city. The group had imposed draconian punishments on residents, including amputating the hands of smokers, stoning people for drinking alcohol and flogging men who did not grow beards or wear traditional Islamic clothing.

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1 Comment(s)

مازن الزيادي | 2016-12-25

Allah willing, Fallujah will return to its normal life after it paid the price of its affiliation twice in the face of the occupation and another time against the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)"