Damascus government’s siege threatens public safety in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh

The infrastructure in the two neighborhoods was not good enough, and it was further damaged by the ongoing war in 2016, and the earthquakes of February 6 and 20.

And with the tightening of the already severe blockade,  restoration of  infrastructure has completely stopped.

In this regard, a member of the Public Safety Committee in the People's Municipality of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, Hussein Ahmed, spoke to ANHA agency, who confirmed that public safety work in the People's Municipality has been suspended, as a result of the suffocating siege imposed by the Damascus government barriers surrounding the 2 neighborhoods.

He pointed out that many projects have stopped due to their need for the necessary materials to restore the infrastructure, which the Damascus government blockade prevents them from entering the two neighborhoods, including sewage pipes, and the main materials such as cement and iron.

Damascus government checkpoints which are scattered at the entrances and exits of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, have been preventing the passing of materials related to the restoration of dilapidated sewage lines in the two neighborhoods, for more than 20 days.

 Ahmed referred to the impact of war and natural disasters on the geography of the region, saying, "The war that took place in the region and the two earthquakes that occurred on February 6 and 20 affected the infrastructure greatly, causing cracks in it and leaking water into the buildings."

Ahmed expressed his concern about the repeating of the scene of the collapse of the residential building on January 22 of this year, and said: "Recently, a building collapsed  in  Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, and it was caused by water leaking.”

 Ahmed called for lifting the siege in order for the rapid intervention of the Public Safety Committee in the People's Municipality for the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, which is concerned with removing rubble and  examining damaged buildings, to carry out its work before any disasters occur.

ANHA