Douma (Arabic: دُومَا, romanized: Dūmā) is a city in Syria. Its centre is about 10 km (6 mi) northeast of the centre of Damascus. Being the capital of Rif Dimashq Governorate, the city is also the administrative centre of Douma District. Douma is a major city of the region known as Ghouta, for the peri-urban settlements to the east and south of Damascus.
Douma
دُومَا | |
|---|---|
 Douma in late April 2018. | |
  Douma Location in Syria  Douma Douma (Eastern Mediterranean) | |
| Coordinates: 33°34′16″N 36°24′04″E / 33.57111°N 36.40111°E | |
| Country |  Syria |
| Governorate | Rif Dimashq |
| District | Douma District |
| Subdistrict | Douma Subdistrict |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Ahmed Ibrahim Khalil[2][3] |
| • Mayor | Hisham al-Mama[4] |
| Elevation | 428 m (1,404 ft) |
| Population (2004 census) | |
• Total | 110,893[1] |
| Demonym(s) | Arabic: دوماني, romanized: Doumani Arabic: دوميّ, romanized: Doumi |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (AST) |
| Geocode | C2338 |
| Climate | BSk |
History
editCity in the Syrian Civil War (2012–2018)
editDuring the Syrian Civil War, Douma was a major flashpoint and witnessed numerous demonstrations against the Syrian government and armed clashes against the Syrian Army and security forces during the early stages of the conflict.[5][6]
On 30 January 2012, the Syrian Army gained control of the city after the Battle of Douma, a major operation against the opposition armed groups in Rif Dimashq Governorate.[7]
On 29 June 2012, the Syrian Army was accused of committing a massacre in Douma, where more than 50 people were killed.[8]
As of 18 October 2012, the Free Syrian Army was in control of most of the suburb. Fighting and bombardments continued in the town.[9]
Douma was the main city of the Siege of Eastern Ghouta which began in April 2013, isolating 400,000 people in a 100 square kilometre area. UN and Red Cross aid convoys were able to reach Douma with food and supplies once in 2018.[10]
In the 2015 Douma market massacre, the city was attacked by Syrian Army ground-to-ground missiles, leaving at least 50 dead and several more missing.[11]
In early 2018, the main rebel faction based in the city was Saudi Arabian-backed[12] Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam),[13][14] with an estimated 10-15,000 fighters in the region.[15]
On 7 April 2018, a chemical attack was carried out in the city. Douma had been the target of bombing campaigns over four months in 2018, as Syrian Air Force forces intensified their aerial bombardment before launching a ground offensive.[16] The last and deadliest, according to medics and rescue workers, occurred when a yellow industrial gas cylinder was reportedly dropped onto the balcony of a block of flats. The opposition's surrender came a day later.[17][18] After that, Syrian Army recaptured the city.[19]
In September 2018, the UN Commission of Enquiry on Syria reported: "Throughout 7 April, numerous aerial attacks were carried out in Douma, striking various residential areas. A vast body of evidence collected by the Commission suggests that, at approximately 7.30 p.m., a gas cylinder containing a chlorine payload delivered by helicopter struck a multi-storey residential apartment building located approximately 100 metres southwest of Shohada square. The Commission received information on the death of at least 49 individuals and the wounding of up to 650 others... the Commission cannot make yet any conclusions concerning the exact causes of death, in particular on whether another agent was used in addition to chlorine that may have caused or contributed to deaths and injuries"[20][21] Local rebels and civilians were sent into northern Syria in forced exile. Similar forced displacement deals have taken place all over Syria.[22]
Rehabilitation of the city (2018–present)
editDuring the 2021 Syrian presidential election, the current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and First Lady Asma al-Assad cast their votes in the city of Douma.[23]
Between 2018 and 2023, around 108,000 people also returned to the city and its surroundings.[4] In 2022, the emergency hospital was inaugurated.[24] Also in 2022, Syrian Telecom Center was reopened after its restoration, with cost of SYP 2.5 billion.[25] By 2024, a number of reconstruction works was launched. Street lightning, a temporary provincial health center, 23 out of 33 schools of all types, and an automated bakery have been restored.[4] Also, the tunnels left by militant organizations under many government institutions and buildings were filled, and constructions rehabilitated.[4] In addition, by the end of 2024, a new provincial hospital in the city will be opened.[4]
Geography
editDouma is the largest city located in the settlement slush in the Ghouta oasis that surrounds Damascus from the south and east. Around the city of Douma is the strategic M5 Highway connecting Damascus with the north of the country and across the Syrian Desert and also with Iraqi capital Baghdad.
Climate
editDouma has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk).
| Climate data for Douma | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 12.1 (53.8) |
14.0 (57.2) |
18.1 (64.6) |
22.9 (73.2) |
28.5 (83.3) |
33.3 (91.9) |
35.5 (95.9) |
35.6 (96.1) |
32.1 (89.8) |
26.8 (80.2) |
19.8 (67.6) |
14.0 (57.2) |
24.4 (75.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.8 (44.2) |
8.1 (46.6) |
11.5 (52.7) |
15.4 (59.7) |
20.1 (68.2) |
24.2 (75.6) |
26.0 (78.8) |
26.0 (78.8) |
22.8 (73.0) |
18.5 (65.3) |
12.9 (55.2) |
8.5 (47.3) |
16.7 (62.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.5 (34.7) |
2.3 (36.1) |
4.9 (40.8) |
8.0 (46.4) |
11.7 (53.1) |
15.1 (59.2) |
16.6 (61.9) |
16.5 (61.7) |
13.5 (56.3) |
10.2 (50.4) |
6.1 (43.0) |
3.1 (37.6) |
9.1 (48.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 33 (1.3) |
39 (1.5) |
20 (0.8) |
13 (0.5) |
7 (0.3) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
8 (0.3) |
25 (1.0) |
40 (1.6) |
185 (7.3) |
| Source: Climate-Data.org [26] | |||||||||||||
See also
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References
edit- ^ "population of Douma, syria 2004 census". CBSSYR. Archived from the original on 2019-12-09. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
- ^ "الرئيس الأسد يصدر مرسومين بتعيين أربعة محافظين جدد" [President Assad issues two decrees appointing four new governors]. SANA. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "President al-Assad issues decrees on appointing new governors for eight Syrian provinces". Syrian Arab News Agency. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Safira Ismail (11 March 2024). "القطاعات الخدمية والتعليمية والصحية في دوما تنهض بتعاون المجتمع المحلي". Syrian Arab News Agency. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "Syria's Douma 'wants its dead'". TVNZ. 3 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ "Arab League monitors stoke anti-government protests in Syria". USA Today. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ "Syria troops battle to retake Damascus suburbs". Reuters. 29 January 2012. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ Erika Solomon (29 June 2012). "Syrian civil war: Douma siege kills nearly 200, including young children and entire families". National Post.
- ^ Di Giovanni, JANINE (18 October 2012). "Denial Is Slipping Away as War Arrives in Damascus". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ^ "UN convoy delivers aid to Eastern Ghouta amid 'calm'". BBC News. 9 March 2018.
- ^ "Over 50 people killed in Syrian missile strikes at rebel areas near Damascus". Editorials. Reuters. 22 August 2015.
- ^ "MAPPING MILITANT ORGANIZATIONS: Jaish al-Islam". Stanford University. 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Who are the rebel groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government forces in Eastern Ghouta?" SBS News. 2 March 2018.
- ^ "Reports of Douma evacuation deal 'not true': council member". Al-Jazeera. 1 April 2018.
- ^ "Which rebel groups are fighting in Syria's eastern Ghouta?". Deutsche Welle. 20 February 2018.
- ^ BBC October 2018 bbc how chemical attacks helped assad
- ^ "Any evidence in suspected Syria gas attack likely remains, experts say". NBC News.
- ^ "America vows to respond to a suspected chemical attack in Syria". April 9, 2018 – via The Economist.
- ^ "Syria war: What we know about Douma 'chemical attack'". July 10, 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ [1] Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, Section 92
- ^ "Interim report of the OPCW fact-finding mission in Syria regarding the incident of alleged use of toxic chemicals as a weapon in Douma, Syrian Arab Republic, on 7 April 2018" (PDF). OPCW. 6 July 2018.
- ^ Shaheen, Kareem (April 9, 2018). "Douma inhabitants prepare to leave after deadly chemical attack". The Guardian.
- ^ "Presidential Candidate Dr. Bashar al-Assad, his wife cast votes in elections in Douma City". Syrian Arab News Agency. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "Arnous inaugurates Douma Emergency Hospital at a cost of more than SYP 2 billion". Syrian Arab News Agency. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "Prime Minister opens Douma Telecom Center: important step to offer services to citizens". Syrian Arab News Agency. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "Climate: Douma". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved September 23, 2018.