DAMASCUS, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Two days after the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's government plunged much of Syria into turmoil, life is steadily returning to a calmer pace in many parts of the country.
In Damascus, the bustling markets offer a scene of renewed normalcy. Most shops have reopened, drawing steady crowds of customers eager to stock up on food and essential goods.
Public and private transportation has resumed, leading to traffic jams on main roads. The uniformed officers, who are organizing the flow of cars, wear attire that is unfamiliar compared to the uniforms under the al-Assad government, indicating a shift in authority and civic life.
Media outlet Sawt al-Asima (The Voice of the Capital) has reported that public employees are starting to return to their offices. Money transfer and banking services, which were previously closed due to the turmoil, have now reopened. Security officers are patrolling various neighborhoods, providing a sense of order after a tense period of confusion and looting.
"Today, I went to the market without fear," said Salim al-Halabi, 64, a former government employee from Damascus.
"I was happy to see people going about their business peacefully," Al-Halabi expressed relief that the recent unrest now appeared temporary.
In the iconic Umayyad Square, once a symbol of state power, crowds gathered, waving the green flag emblazoned with three red stars, representing the newly formed transitional government.
In Hama, central Syria, markets are likewise gradually returning to normal after intense clashes, according to Sawt al-Asima. Local media quoted the newly appointed interior minister in the transitional government, Mohammed Abdul-Rahman, as saying that police units had secured government and private facilities and deployed patrols to maintain order.
Farther north, local newspaper Al-Watan reported that commercial activities in Aleppo had resumed as usual, signaling a return to relative stability in the country's largest city.
In Sweida, a province in the south known for its Druze majority, most shops have reopened, offering goods at fluctuating prices. State employees have returned to key institutions like the water, telephone, and electricity departments. Money exchange offices have also resumed operations.
"After days of fear and uncertainty, life has returned to normal in Sweida," said Umm Rebal, 45, wearing the region's traditional attire.
Local authorities in Sweida are working to restore essential services, removing concrete barriers around government buildings and clearing garbage from the streets. Officials acknowledged that fuel shortages remain a challenge, hindering the full return of some public services.
Armed local factions said they were guarding vital facilities against looting and had reclaimed stolen property, such as oxygen cylinders and a vehicle taken from the national hospital. Additional tankers carrying diesel and gasoline are arriving in Sweida after a week-long hiatus, easing shortages caused by the upheaval.
As calm takes hold across provinces and people tentatively rebuild routines, Syrians are hoping that the next chapter of life, whatever it brings, will be marked by greater freedom, prosperity, and a long-awaited peace. ■
