In Syria’s Aleppo, reconstruction makes slow start

ALEPPO: Among the destroyed buildings of  Syria ‘s Aleppo, a battered sign between two army checkpoints welcomes visitors to an area earmarked to become a beacon of post-war reconstruction.
“The industrial city of Aleppo thanks you for your visit,” it reads.
Once the country’s powerhouse, Aleppo was devastated by  Syria ‘s ongoing civil war before Russia-backed government forces expelled the last rebels in late 2016 after a devastating siege.
Aleppo was devastated by earlier phases of Syria’s ongoing civil war, notably a siege and bombardment by Russia backed government forces that saw rebels pushed out by late 2016. Photo: AFP As some of the city is slowly rebuilt, the Russian army this week showed reporters around, as Moscow seeks to highlight its role in reconstruction of the war-torn country.
Several factories have reopened in the almost three years since the fighting ended in Aleppo, large parts of which were flattened.
At Katerji Engineering and Mechanical Industries, 1,000 people are employed in metalworking jobs. About a fifth of the workers recently returned to Aleppo.