Southern Damascus: people implant roofs and yards

Reporting by Abu Abdullah Al Hourani; Translation by Yusra Ahmed

 (Zaman Al Wasl)- In step challenging the ongoing siege in Southern Damascus, people started to think of alternatives to fight starvation and lack of food.

Abo Khalil, a-50-year old man from al-Tadamon neighborhood found no option but to plant the area in front of his house, to provide food to his family.

Abo Khalil told Zaman al-Wasl that he went to that work to secure some food to his family, as he did not want last year’s tragedy to be repeated, when his daughter suffered of malnutrition.

“I solely managed to plant this 100 square meter next to my house with fast growing plants like parsley, coriander, lettuce, aubergine and other plants which do not need too much effort and water” he added.

Abo Khalil suffered a lot to secure water to irrigate his plants, “but still easier than not finding a thing to eat” mentioned.

Abo Hussein from Hajar al-Aswad had another culturing experience, as he planted the roof of his house, since the neighborhood is heavily crowded, and hardly could find an unbuilt piece of land.

“I spent months in carrying soil and water to the roof, to be able to feed my family and we hope the products to be sufficient, since it is the first time I practice agriculture, and it is difficult somehow, but still easier than suffering of hunger and siege ” he explained”.