In brief
In the wake of a civil war that devastated homes and communities, Syrians like the Labaad family navigate the complexities of returning to what remains of their past lives.
Lubna Labaad was met with a scene of desolation as she ventured into her former neighborhood of Qaboun, Damascus. The remnants of what once were vibrant homes have been reduced to ruins, save for a lone mosque standing amidst the destruction. For Labaad and her family, returning after the abrupt end of hostilities, marked by the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December, carries a bittersweet hope. “We were waiting for that very moment to return,” the 26-year-old expressed, although they found their home stripped of essentials, a stark reminder of the war's toll.Syria’s conflict saw over 13 million people displaced, the United Nations identifying it as one of the largest crises of its kind. More than six million fled to other countries, while another seven million remained internally displaced. Families like the Labaads are now confronting the stark reality of their homecoming, grappling with the ruins of their past and the challenge of rebuilding what remains of their lives in a country torn apart by more than 13 years of violence.
