Photo taken on July 3, 2021 shows children paly at a statue in Mosul, Iraq.(Photo: Xinhua)

 

Photo taken on July 3, 2021 shows the destroyed framework and dome of the Al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul, Iraq.(Photo: Xinhua)

 

Photo taken on July 3, 2021 shows Ali Saadi and his son stand in front of his newly-built house in Mosul, Iraq.(Photo: Xinhua)

 
Hustle and bustle returning to destroyed streets, houses springing up from ruins, and young adults endeavoring to start businesses, this is what the Iraqi old city of Mosul looks like four years after the country's second largest city was liberated from the extremist Islamic State (IS) group.

Restoring Historical Heritage

In 2014, the IS proclaimed the establishment of a caliphate in the Al-Nuri Mosque, a landmark of Mosul for centuries. Days before government forces retook the old city in June 2017, the extremist group blew up the mosque and its leaning minaret.

Efforts are underway to rebuild the iconic mosque through a UNESCO initiative called the Revive the Spirit of Mosul.

At the fenced location of the Al-Nuri Mosque, rubble of the bombed complex has been removed, and the destroyed framework and dome have been consolidated.

Meanwhile, a team from QAF Lab, led by young innovators in Mosul, has rebuilt some important historical sites in the old city of Mosul through virtual reality (VR) technology. They hope that videos of the reconstructed mosque, churches and ancient houses will survive for the future generations.

"Most heritage sites of Mosul were destroyed as a result of the IS occupation," said Malak Maqdad, a project coordinator of the lab.

"VR technology is a good method to make sure that heritage sites are going to be part of Mosul, at least for the coming years and future generations," she explained.

Young people have witnessed bombardments, bloodshed and deaths, Maqdad said, adding the talented, including women, are forced by harsh reality to stand up to rebuild society.

More and more young women are allowed to work outside home to support their families, though rare in Muslim culture, she noted.

Nurturing Start-ups

An incubator called the Station has been active in Mosul to help the young start up businesses. The Station provides co-working spaces and training programs nurturing entrepreneurship, marketing and design skills.

So far, more than 10 start-ups have been incubated, ranging from media and design studios to traditional handicraft workshops. They are invigorating the private sector and encouraging young talents to convert ideas into job opportunities.

"We think entrepreneurship is one of the most important things that we need to rebuild the city," said Zainab Azzam, a communication specialist from the Station.

In the co-working space of the Station, Ameen Amjad, a student from Northern Technical University in Mosul, writes a management program for his family's store, which was looted and destroyed during the IS occupation.

"It was a nightmare," Amjad recalled. Due to the suspension of higher education from 2014 to 2017, Amjad spent more time studying C++ language. He wants to be a much-needed computer programmer after graduation.

Resuming Life

Inside commercial areas in the old city, grocery stores and shops are reopening when many buildings remain in ruins.

Ahmed Abdul-Munim, 33, who works in a bakery, said the government has paved roads and brought electricity and water to help residents return home over the last four years.

"More work needs to be done," said Munim, noting only 20 to 30 percent of residents have returned and the old city suffers economic difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a neighborhood around the western bank of the Tigris that was almost completely ruined by airstrikes against the IS, several new houses have been erected.

Although the upper floor is unfinished, Ali Saadi has moved into their newly-built house with his family. He could not be more satisfied because his family had been homeless since battles destroyed his house and severely injured his teenage daughter.

"Some families have rebuilt their homes, and some are planning to return. This gives hope that life will return soon," he said.