The eastern Ghouta suburbs of Damascus - in pictures

  • The main street of Kfar Batna district in the Damascus suburbs of Ghouta. All photos: Khaled Yacoub Oweis / The National
    The main street of Kfar Batna district in the Damascus suburbs of Ghouta. All photos: Khaled Yacoub Oweis / The National
  • The Barada River, now a smelly stream, runs through eastern Ghouta
    The Barada River, now a smelly stream, runs through eastern Ghouta
  • The Ghouta comprises built-up areas and farmland
    The Ghouta comprises built-up areas and farmland
  • A field in Maliha, eastern Ghouta, with the Qalamun Mountains in the backgound
    A field in Maliha, eastern Ghouta, with the Qalamun Mountains in the backgound
  • The area is full of uncollected rubbish and building rubble
    The area is full of uncollected rubbish and building rubble
  • Women farmers walk past a field in Maliha
    Women farmers walk past a field in Maliha
  • A street in Maliha
    A street in Maliha
  • Ghouta has been described in literature as a beautiful garden area, but its landscape has become bleak because of decades of environmental degradation and economic collapse
    Ghouta has been described in literature as a beautiful garden area, but its landscape has become bleak because of decades of environmental degradation and economic collapse