Located on the west bank of the Tigris, Mosul Old City is a microcosm where different groups have coexisted peacefully for centuries. The area is home to the city’s oldest markets, which have played a key role in driving the local economy while also connecting the city’s different communities.
The ISIS fighters’ last stand in the narrow streets of the Old City had a devastating impact on the area. Nearly everyone in the Old City lost a relative or friend during Mosul’s liberation and witnessed firsthand as their neighborhood transformed into piles of rubble.
USAID is contributing to efforts to rebuild by organizing community dialogue sessions. These sessions will be conducted with local leaders and activists in Mosul’s Old City to collectively identify issues and develop solutions to improve the security of their neighborhoods and encourage the return of business owners and residents.
As Ayoub Dhanoun, an activist leader in Mosul Old City said, “improving the economic aspect is one of the main pillars of promoting social cohesion in areas affected by war like Mosul Old City, I believe USAID will work to find solutions and this a good opportunity for our community.”
As Old City residents return to the area and rebuild their homes, USAID will be there to support. Business owners are starting again from nothing and the markets are gradually regaining their luster and role as centers of commercial activity.
DCEO for USAID