West Mosul residents cautiously optimistic about reconstruction
By Ernest Sipes
MOSUL, Iraq – Mosul residents are cautiously optimistic about the future of their war-ravaged city as the reopening of schools and the return of local business owners signals a turning point in the security situation and the herculean task of reconstruction.
More than 600 schools were destroyed or badly damaged in the battle to liberate Mosul from ISIS control. Government figures show the number of functioning schools has fallen by 30 percent from its pre-war high of 2,754.
But thanks to a concerted effort over recent months, 1,660 schools are now ready and equipped to reopen for the 2018-2019 school year, according to Khalid Shalin, deputy director of the Nineveh Education Department.
Now an estimated 800,000 children will return to school – a 10 percent increase on last year.
However, the growth in school attendance is complicated by a fall in the number of teachers. Since the ISIS occupation began in 2014, the number of teaching staff has fallen from more than 50,000 to 44,000.
A ride through Mosul today sparks a glimmer of optimism. Near the remains of the Great Mosque of al-Nuri, demolished by ISIS in the closing days of the battle, one of West Mosul’s souqs is bustling – even immediately before Friday morning prayers.
A constant stream of traffic passes merchants hawking everything from CD players to flat screen televisions.
Scattered among the shells of gutted businesses are the brightly painted facades of new schools. Among them is the Al Amani School for Boys in the Douwasa neighborhood.
In this partially destroyed district, the owner of Riyadh’s Barber Shop has rebuilt his business in the same building where he has cut hair for many years.
New asphalt has been laid in front of Riyadh’s shop and next door are newly opened businesses, including a falafel restaurant and a clothes shop.
“Just a few months ago, I was the only barber working in West Mosul,” he says, taking a break between snips of a customer’s hair. “Now, there are seven shops like mine open.”
Although there is still occasional violence, the city is overall becoming safer, Riyadh says.
“Last night I worked until midnight and then I walked home and no one bothered me,” he said.
His advice to others looking to resume business in West Mosul is not to wait for bank loans or aid from NGOs.
“You really can’t depend on someone else when you open a business,” said Riyadh.
“I had to spend about $1,000 to fix up my shop, for new tiles and to get the electrical wiring repaired. If people want to come back to Mosul and reopen their shop, I would suggest they just borrow what they can from family, friends and neighbors. Borrow a little here, borrow a little there. And then pay it back of course,” he added.
A short distance from Riyadh’s shop, a group of children leap over construction materials and a new water pipe to play on an improvised playground.
Life remains difficult for the residents of West Mosul, whose streets were a battlefield just over a year ago. Military helicopters still circle overhead and occasional bursts of automatic fire crackle in the streets.
For Riyadh and store holders in the souqs, this is just a part of daily life in a city that has been periodically under siege since 2003.
MOSUL, Iraq – Mosul residents are cautiously optimistic about the future of their war-ravaged city as the reopening of schools and the return of local business owners signals a turning point in the security situation and the herculean task of reconstruction.
More than 600 schools were destroyed or badly damaged in the battle to liberate Mosul from ISIS control. Government figures show the number of functioning schools has fallen by 30 percent from its pre-war high of 2,754.
But thanks to a concerted effort over recent months, 1,660 schools are now ready and equipped to reopen for the 2018-2019 school year, according to Khalid Shalin, deputy director of the Nineveh Education Department.
Now an estimated 800,000 children will return to school – a 10 percent increase on last year.
However, the growth in school attendance is complicated by a fall in the number of teachers. Since the ISIS occupation began in 2014, the number of teaching staff has fallen from more than 50,000 to 44,000.
A ride through Mosul today sparks a glimmer of optimism. Near the remains of the Great Mosque of al-Nuri, demolished by ISIS in the closing days of the battle, one of West Mosul’s souqs is bustling – even immediately before Friday morning prayers.
A constant stream of traffic passes merchants hawking everything from CD players to flat screen televisions.
Scattered among the shells of gutted businesses are the brightly painted facades of new schools. Among them is the Al Amani School for Boys in the Douwasa neighborhood.
In this partially destroyed district, the owner of Riyadh’s Barber Shop has rebuilt his business in the same building where he has cut hair for many years.
New asphalt has been laid in front of Riyadh’s shop and next door are newly opened businesses, including a falafel restaurant and a clothes shop.
“Just a few months ago, I was the only barber working in West Mosul,” he says, taking a break between snips of a customer’s hair. “Now, there are seven shops like mine open.”
Although there is still occasional violence, the city is overall becoming safer, Riyadh says.
“Last night I worked until midnight and then I walked home and no one bothered me,” he said.
His advice to others looking to resume business in West Mosul is not to wait for bank loans or aid from NGOs.
“You really can’t depend on someone else when you open a business,” said Riyadh.
“I had to spend about $1,000 to fix up my shop, for new tiles and to get the electrical wiring repaired. If people want to come back to Mosul and reopen their shop, I would suggest they just borrow what they can from family, friends and neighbors. Borrow a little here, borrow a little there. And then pay it back of course,” he added.
A short distance from Riyadh’s shop, a group of children leap over construction materials and a new water pipe to play on an improvised playground.
Life remains difficult for the residents of West Mosul, whose streets were a battlefield just over a year ago. Military helicopters still circle overhead and occasional bursts of automatic fire crackle in the streets.
For Riyadh and store holders in the souqs, this is just a part of daily life in a city that has been periodically under siege since 2003.