Carpenters in war-torn Syrian town revive craft despite challenges

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Carpenters in war-torn Syrian town revive craft despite challenges

2025-12-10 00:36 Last Updated At：13:23

In Darayya, a suburb of Syria's capital Damascus, carpenters are reopening their workshops and reviving a traditional craft that was in danger of dying out during the country’s civil war.

Syria has a rich heritage of crafts, passed down through generations, and in Darayya, carpenters were once found on most streets. But as the war swept through the town, many carpenters were forced to flee to other countries.

Now with the noise of electric saws and sanding machines once again filling the streets, the town's workshops are coming back to life, and local carpenters are working to restore the furniture trade despite continuing challenges.

Abdulrazaq Masric, a 32-year-old carpenter who previously worked in Egypt, returned after the fall of the former Syrian government. Using whatever materials were available, he set up a workshop specializing in repairing war-damaged and long-neglected furniture.

"I can repair damaged pieces of furniture by 70 percent only. This furniture has been taken out from under the rubble and brought to me. I have changed its wood and sponge, making it usable again. My work helps those who can't afford new furniture,” he said.

Tucked amid the ruins and rubble left by the civil war, Ahmed Jamal Aldin’s workshop is creating brand-new furniture.

According to Aldin, the lack of a reliable electricity grid has forced him to rely on costly private generators. Despite limited orders, he is optimistic that the carpentry trade will expand as more residents return.

"Many people are ordering new furniture, like sofas, beds and wooden decorations. The carpentry trade is flourishing because many people have lost their furniture and they need new items. The only thing needed for people to change their furniture is purchasing power, which is still weak,” he said.

To help them navigate the challenges, local authorities are supporting workshops looking to resume operations.

"The population in Darayya is over 125,000. The economy is improving day by day, especially in the furniture industry which our city is famous for. Many carpenters who were displaced out of Syria like in Iraq, Jordan, Türkiye or Europe, are now returning to Darayya to bring life back to their city," said Adnan Horani, a local government worker.

China's 2025 coal production reaches 4.83 bln tonnes, up 1.2 pct

China's coal production of enterprises above the designated size reached 4.83 billion tonnes in 2025, up 1.2 percent year on year and marking a new historical high, according to the China National Coal Association.

As the cornerstone of the country's energy security, coal output maintained steady growth throughout the year in 2025, providing strong support for stable energy supply.

Four major coal-producing regions -- Shanxi, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang -- accounted for about 82 percent of national output in the past year, with their outbound shipments made up more than 95 percent of China's inter-provincial coal transfers, playing a critical role in ensuring reliable and stable coal supply nationwide.

Since the onset of winter, the demand for coal has climbed up as energy consumption for heating continues to increase. To cope with the seasonal surge, railway authorities across the country have optimized transport planning and dispatching to ensure smooth coal deliveries during the peak consumption period.

"China's national coal output has continued to show stable growth since winter began. In December alone, raw coal production of enterprises above the designated size reached 440 million tonnes, with average daily output of 14.1 million tonnes, remaining at a historical high. Coal production has increased steadily, while inventory levels have also stayed at a high level," said Zhang Hong, vice president of the China National Coal Association.

Industrial enterprises above designated size refer to those with an annual main business revenue of 20 million yuan (about 2.87 million U.S. dollars) or more.