Outside the Syrian capital, Radwan Hazaa is preparing to plant hundreds of pomegranate seeds on his land in Eastern Ghouta, hoping to replace some 3,000 trees lost in years of war. The former rebel stronghold was once the garden of Damascus, supplying abundant fruit and vegetables as well as dairy products to the capital.
But intense bombing during a five-year blockade by the army that ended in the negotiated withdrawal of rebel forces and their families last year has taken its toll on the land.
Haza returned last year, six years after fleeing for the relative safety of Damascus when fierce fighting erupted in Eastern Ghouta. "When I saw my scorched plot, I fell to my knees and cried," he said. "It felt like I would have to start over from scratch.”
Only a few dozen of the 3,500 pomegranate, apricot and walnut trees he boasted before the war were still standing. The rest had died from fire or lack of water during the fighting.
News.yahoo.com quoted one source as saying: "It will take 10 years for the area to regain its green cover, and at least five for trees to once again bear fruit."
