The Syrian city of Aleppo is still littered with debris from years of shelling and gunfire – but now tea shops, market stalls and pedestrians are also returning to what’s one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Residents say things have improved since regime forces retook the city in 2016.
“Here in the streets, there wasn’t anyone at all during the war,” remembers resident Saleh Taftaneyzi. “There just wasn’t anyone. And now, you can see for yourself, how many people there are.”
Aleppo was devasted by a four year battle for control between rebels and government troops of what was once Syria’s largest city.
The four year siege left tens of thousands of people dead – including about 5,000 children.