Syria: Amidst destruction, hope lies

Syria: Amidst destruction, hope lies

After more than six years, the once-besieged Syrian town of Douma in Eastern Ghouta is slowly seeing displaced people return and residents who never left start to rebuild. The task ahead is enormous.

During the years of fighting, which culminated in a two-month offensive earlier this year when pro-government forces retook the area, more than half of the town's pre-conflict population of 300,000 were displaced to other parts of Syria.

UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi visited the city on 30 August to witness the destruction for himself and speak to some of the residents. He praised the resilience of the people there, but said more assistance was needed to help them get back on their feet.

• See also: Humanitarian aid still the top priority in Syria – UNHCR Chief