[Published here July 8, 2017]
Beirut (AFP) – Syria’s Raqa once thrived on the banks of the gushing Euphrates River, but dire shortages in the Islamic State group stronghold are forcing desperate civilians to risk their lives for water.
AFP
Syrian hospital saves lives by going solar | AFP
[Published here on May 30, 2017]
Beirut (AFP) – Neo-natal wards and emergency rooms in a northern Syrian hospital will from Tuesday have uninterrupted electricity for the first time in years thanks to new solar panels, a charity said.
Syria talks bear little as tensions boil over US-led strike | AFP
[Published here on May 19, 2017]
A new round of Syria peace talks closed Friday with little visible progress towards ending the country’s conflict, as tensions boiled between the warring sides over a US-led bombing raid.
Syrian sides agree to new UN process on constitution | AFP
[Published here on May 18, 2017]
In the first concrete results from talks this week on ending Syria’s conflict, the United Nations said Thursday the warring sides had agreed to set up expert committees to discuss “constitutional issues.”
Syrian rivals weigh UN plan for new constitution | AFP
[Published here on May 17, 2017]
Geneva (AFP) – Rival Syrian delegations on Wednesday weighed a UN proposal on developing a new constitution for the war-ravaged country, as a new round of peace talks entered a second day.
Syrians seek release of prisoners from ‘crematorium’ jail | AFP
[Published here on May 17, 2017]
Standing outside the UN’s headquarters in Geneva, Amina Kholani chokes back tears as she relives the nightmare of visiting relatives in Saydnaya, one of Syria’s most notorious prisons.
Syrian opposition vows not to ‘walk away’ from Geneva talks | AFP
[Published here on May 16, 2017]
Geneva (AFP) – Syria’s opposition pledged not to walk away from a new round of peace talks in Geneva on Tuesday despite rebel defeats in Damascus and US charges of regime atrocities at an infamous prison.
Syria talks open overshadowed by rival track, rebel losses | AFP
[Published here on May 15, 2017]
Geneva (Switzerland) (AFP) – A new round of Syrian peace talks opens in Geneva on Tuesday, overshadowed by a competing process in Astana and with rebels reeling from a major setback in Damascus.
Avoiding risky sea journey, Syrian refugees head to Italy ‘pronto’ | AFP
[Published here on March 19, 2017]
Beirut (AFP) – Just before midnight in a sleepy district of Beirut, dozens of Syrian refugees huddle in small groups around bulging suitcases, clutching their pinging cellphones and one-way tickets to Italy.
“Torino! Pronto! Cappuccino!”
They practise random Italian words in a schoolyard in the Lebanese capital’s eastern Geitawi neighbourhood, waiting for the buses that will take them to the airport, and onwards to their new lives in Italy.
Lebanon rescues 3 Siberian tiger cubs en route to Syria | AFP
[Published here March 18, 2017]
BEIRUT: An animal rights group in Lebanon is caring for three dehydrated, maggot-infested Siberian tiger cubs that were rescued on their way to a zoo in neighboring war-ravaged Syria.
MAYA GEBEILY 