Sustained Entirely by Its Oasis and Tourism, Palmyra's Fate in Syria Hinges on the Revival of Its Agriculture
Réservé aux abonnés
Less well-known than its archaeological site, the city's oasis, located in the middle of the desert, suffered just as much during the Syrian civil war. Its rehabilitation is essential to bring back tourists.
On the edge of the Syrian Desert, Palmyra timidly appears on the horizon. The storm that is saturating the air with sand initially obscures its splendor.
You have to get closer to see the Palmyra Castle perched on its artificial mound, overlooking the city. Then you can see the remains of the ancient city — a fragile skeleton that the war finally shattered. Arriving in the city center, the road winds between rows of facades riddled with bullets, when they haven't been ripped open by bombings: They tell the story of a Syria with a history as glorious as it is dramatic.
Since 2011, this cultural capital has been a focal point of fighting involving, in turn, the Islamic State, rebels, the Bashar al-Assad regime, Russian and Iranian forces, and Hezbollah. The 'bride of the desert' — as many like to call it — has practically become a ghost town. Here and there, a few shops have raised their shutters to sell fruits and vegetables, adding color to a bleak panorama.
À lire aussi Americans in Paris: The Best Neighborhoods to Call Home in the French Capital
A ravaged oasis
Even the oasis, with its 400 hectares…
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
6 hours ago
- France 24
Eight-country coalition aims to tax luxury air travel
The coalition, which also brings together Somalia, Benin, Sierra Leone and Antigua and Barbuda, said it would work to increase the number of countries taxing plane tickets, including business-class travel, and private jets. The air industry is a major source of the polluting emissions that contribute to global warming, which inflicts its worst impacts on vulnerable developing countries that are least responsible. Ahead of November's UN climate summit in Brazil, the French presidency said in a statement the group would work on making the aviation sector contribute more to funding climate adaptation. The aim would be to plough at least some of the tax proceeds into "resilient investments and fair transitions" and help poorer countries raise more domestic revenue, a key factor for development, the statement added. France, Kenya and Barbados have previously lobbied for such "solidarity levies" to raise money for climate action, suggesting taxes on shipping, fossil fuels, plastic and cryptocurrency. The group has suggested levies on flying could raise up to 187 billion euros ($220 billion) if they were applied across the board. Greenpeace welcomed an "important step" to raise more money from "the most elite and polluting form of travel", which has remained "undertaxed". "Bold, cooperative action that makes polluters pay is not just fair -- it's essential," Greenpeace's global political lead Rebecca Newsom said in a statement. The announcement came during a UN development conference in Spain that aims to deliver fresh impetus for a sector reeling from severe cuts to foreign aid, which have repercussions for poor countries' battle against climate change. Wealthy nations that have historically done the most to drive climate change are obliged to provide finance to help poorer countries adapt to its consequences under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Local France
14 hours ago
- Local France
French Word of the Day: Dépaysement
Why do I need to know dépaysement? So that when you feel out of place or alienated in a French environment, at least you'll be able to express this in colloquial terms. What does it mean? Without realising there is a word for it, you probably experienced dépaysement before. Dépaysement - roughly pronounced day-pay-zuh-mohn - is a feeling you experience being out of your usual environment, and it refers to both your physical and psychological state. It's one of those French words that doesn't really exist in English. Depending on the sentence, it can mean anything between homesickness, disorientation, culture shock, change of scenery and feeling uprooted. READ ALSO : 13 untranslatable French words that tell us something about France✎ The word can come with a connotation of loneliness but it can also have a more positive meaning, if you were actually looking for new impressions. Advertisement It is a combination of de ('from') and pays ('country'), with the -ment suffix that turns it into a noun. So it literally means: 'being removed from your country'. In everyday French, especially among travellers, writers, and journalists, dépaysement is more often used positively, but its emotional range is what makes the word so rich. Use it like this In a positive way: Ce voyage au Japon m'a offert un vrai dépaysement . - This trip to Japan gave me a real sense of being away from home. In a negative way: Elle a eu un fort sentiment de dépaysement en arrivant à Paris . - She felt deeply disoriented and homesick when she arrived in Paris.
Le Figaro
16 hours ago
- Le Figaro
Sustained Entirely by Its Oasis and Tourism, Palmyra's Fate in Syria Hinges on the Revival of Its Agriculture
Réservé aux abonnés Less well-known than its archaeological site, the city's oasis, located in the middle of the desert, suffered just as much during the Syrian civil war. Its rehabilitation is essential to bring back tourists. On the edge of the Syrian Desert, Palmyra timidly appears on the horizon. The storm that is saturating the air with sand initially obscures its splendor. You have to get closer to see the Palmyra Castle perched on its artificial mound, overlooking the city. Then you can see the remains of the ancient city — a fragile skeleton that the war finally shattered. Arriving in the city center, the road winds between rows of facades riddled with bullets, when they haven't been ripped open by bombings: They tell the story of a Syria with a history as glorious as it is dramatic. Since 2011, this cultural capital has been a focal point of fighting involving, in turn, the Islamic State, rebels, the Bashar al-Assad regime, Russian and Iranian forces, and Hezbollah. The 'bride of the desert' — as many like to call it — has practically become a ghost town. Here and there, a few shops have raised their shutters to sell fruits and vegetables, adding color to a bleak panorama. À lire aussi Americans in Paris: The Best Neighborhoods to Call Home in the French Capital A ravaged oasis Even the oasis, with its 400 hectares…
