Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Syria's Raqqa Struggles to Recover, 2 Years After IS Ouster

Sirwan Kajjo

   WASHINGTON - Once considered the Islamic State's de facto capital, the
   Syrian city of Raqqa is slowly recovering, nearly two years after its
   liberation from the terror group.

   U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) liberated Raqqa from IS in
   October 2017. But during the 3-month-long battle, much of the city's
   infrastructure was reduced to rubble.

   Local officials complain the international coalition to defeat IS,
   which helped free the city, lost interest in rebuilding Raqqa as the
   focus has shifted to other areas recently liberated from IS.

   "We used to meet second-tier coalition officials -- sometimes from the
   first tier," said Abdullah Aryan, head of the planning department at
   the Raqqa Civil Council, which has been largely responsible for
   reconstruction.

   "But now we only get visits by an employee from the French ministry of
   defense or British ministry of agriculture or an employee responsible
   for civil society in the U.S. government," he told VOA.

.