Calm prevails in Aleppo, Syria, with people moving about normally on the city streets, as described to thestival.gr by Metropolitan Ephraim of Aleppo and Alexandretta.
The past few days have been very difficult, he noted, as Aleppo’s residents, fearing what would happen when the rebels entered the city, fled in haste. However, according to the Metropolitan, residents have now begun to return.
“We are fine, and the congregation is fine. People have started returning to Aleppo because they fled during the first days, in the initial moments of fear about the situation. We were also anxious and uncertain about what would happen to us Christians when the rebels entered and took control of the city. But now all of that has been clarified, and we are no longer worried. Of course, we are waiting to see what happens, but we are not worried at all because we have been reassured that no harm will come to us or anyone else,” Metropolitan Ephraim said.
There is “absolute calm” in Aleppo, he observed. However, he added, “great turmoil prevails in other cities.”
“We don’t know what will happen—there is theft, killing, and widespread unrest, especially in Damascus,” he said, adding that in Aleppo, there was initially a curfew when the rebels entered, but now movement in the city is unrestricted. By contrast, Damascus, the Syrian capital, has been under a curfew since yesterday.
The biggest issue in Aleppo today, according to the Metropolitan, is the lack of cash due to the non-functioning of banks and the rise in the cost of goods.
“We lack cash because all the banks have ceased operations, employees are not receiving their salaries, and so on. Prices have, of course, risen. There are goods and food available, but people lack money, so how can they buy them?” emphasized Metropolitan Ephraim.
