• A sea of red flowers are blooming in the Sahel Al-Rouj countryside, Idlib, north-west Syria. All photos: Moawia Atrash for The National
    A sea of red flowers are blooming in the Sahel Al-Rouj countryside, Idlib, north-west Syria. All photos: Moawia Atrash for The National
  • A sea of red flowers are blooming in the Sahel Al-Rouj countryside, Idlib, north-west Syria
    A sea of red flowers are blooming in the Sahel Al-Rouj countryside, Idlib, north-west Syria
  • The phenomenon brings a welcome respite and beauty to the land, ravaged by civil war and the recent earthquake
    The phenomenon brings a welcome respite and beauty to the land, ravaged by civil war and the recent earthquake
  • Hammoud Al-Jassem, a local farmer, said: 'We have been subjected to a lot of bombing and this year we were we also had the earthquake, but our life is simple, and after every calamity, we adapt and go back to live again.'
    Hammoud Al-Jassem, a local farmer, said: 'We have been subjected to a lot of bombing and this year we were we also had the earthquake, but our life is simple, and after every calamity, we adapt and go back to live again.'
  • The flower fields are an area for children to play in
    The flower fields are an area for children to play in
  • Elaf Ezz El-Din 'loves' to play with her brothers in the flowers
    Elaf Ezz El-Din 'loves' to play with her brothers in the flowers
  • 'We go out every day before evening and start playing among the roses. We run and play hide and seek,' she says
    'We go out every day before evening and start playing among the roses. We run and play hide and seek,' she says
  • Adults, such as Umm Awad, work around the flowers
    Adults, such as Umm Awad, work around the flowers
  • 'The spring this year was very special because of the dense spread of red roses, which covered most of the lands of our region,' he said
    'The spring this year was very special because of the dense spread of red roses, which covered most of the lands of our region,' he said
  • Khaled Al-Ali takes his sheep to graze among the flowers
    Khaled Al-Ali takes his sheep to graze among the flowers
  • 'For more than 21 years, we have not seen such a beautiful spring in our region,' says Nawaf Ezz El-Din, 'especially the spread of red roses with such intensity'
    'For more than 21 years, we have not seen such a beautiful spring in our region,' says Nawaf Ezz El-Din, 'especially the spread of red roses with such intensity'
  • 'During the war,' he continues, 'several houses that I owned and some of my shops were destroyed due to the bombing of the regime forces, but I rebuilt them all and remained residing in the Al-Roj Plain among this beautiful nature'
    'During the war,' he continues, 'several houses that I owned and some of my shops were destroyed due to the bombing of the regime forces, but I rebuilt them all and remained residing in the Al-Roj Plain among this beautiful nature'
  • 'Also, we were exposed to an earthquake, and we were very frightened, but now we are starting to recover from its effects. Because we have no choice but to continue our lives and adapt'
    'Also, we were exposed to an earthquake, and we were very frightened, but now we are starting to recover from its effects. Because we have no choice but to continue our lives and adapt'

Spring flowers bloom in north-west Syria — in pictures


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Updated: May 05, 2023, 7:28 AM