A local Syrian newspaper reported that the Idlib Agreement has largely restored stability to towns and villages of northern Syria, which encouraged the return of displaced persons and refugees to their areas of origin and triggered a boom in investment and construction projects.
In a report on the living conditions in northern Syria, Baladi news network said that the region has lately seen a construction boom thanks to the Idlib agreement which provided a safe, stable environment for the return of IDPs and refugees and gave a boost to the economy.
The network quoted engineer Abdul Ghani al-Sabbagh as saying that dozens of building projects have already begun in Idlib province, including a project to build a residential suburb comprising over 100 apartments in the town of Kafar Takharim.
The Idlib agreement also gave a major boost to trade as well, the network added. It quoted a trader as saying: “The agreement led to the reopening of dozens of shops on the main street in the town of Kafar Takharim whose owners previously abandoned because of the bombardment by the Assad regime.” He said that the bombardment led to dozens of massacres as it particularly targeted the main street, prompting the townsmen to dub it as the “street of death.”
Meanwhile, Turkey on Friday announced the opening of a new border crossing with Syria opposite the Afrin region. It said that the move aims to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid from the Turkish territory to the region.
President of the Syrian Coalition thanked the “sisterly state of Turkey for the opening of the new border crossing,” noting that the move “will stimulate the economy and foster development programs in the region.” He also said that the move will contribute to the efforts to meet the needs of the local population in the region which is home to many people fleeing the brutality of the Assad regime.”
“Today, I can return to my homeland and live with my family in safety and stability, away from the sounds of warplanes and explosions,” said Abu Mahmoud, one of the displaced people returning home with his family. “We no longer live in constant fear of warplanes and artillery shells that kill children and steal the smiles on their faces.”
The Idlib agreement, which was signed on September 17 by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, was met with international acclaim as it shattered the Assad regime’s plans for the launch of a military campaign against the region. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
