The former Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmuk, on the outskirts of Damascus, offers a glimpse into how brutal the Syrian civil war was for the civilian population. Home to more than 150,000 people, Yarmuk was completely destroyed during the early years of the war. Now, many are returning to try to rebuild their devastated homes. (Images taken on Dec. 20, 2024)
Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmuk shows extent of violence during 13-year civil war in Syria
- By Yan Boechat
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There are no battles anymore in Yarmuk, but life remains very hard. With no power or water, these women, who recently returned from a village in the Damascus countryside, are struggling.
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A woman hides her face near one of the many military bases surrounding the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp.
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Former residents of the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp are returning to their destroyed homes because the cost of living in and around Damascus has become too expensive in recent years.
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Yarmuk was relentlessly bombarded by Assad’s forces starting in 2011, when the Syrian civil war began. Most of its buildings are destroyed or severely damaged.