SYRIA: Damascus national museum reopens doors

Part of Syria’s national museum has reopened to the public six years after civil war forced its closure. The world-renowned antiquities museum in Damascus closed in 2012 to protect its ancient artefacts from damage. Most of the collection was then evacuated and kept at secret locations to keep exhibits safe. The decision to reopen part […]

Part of Syria’s national museum has reopened to the public six years after civil war forced its closure.

The world-renowned antiquities museum in Damascus closed in 2012 to protect its ancient artefacts from damage.

Most of the collection was then evacuated and kept at secret locations to keep exhibits safe.

The decision to reopen part of the museum comes as the Syrian government maintains normality is returning to the conflict-wracked country.

Earlier this year, the capital was secured by President Bashar Assad’s forces, but fighting still continues in some areas of the country.

The seven-year conflict in Syria has left more than 350,000 people dead, and devastated many historic cities and sites across the country.

Culture Minister Mohamed al-Ahmad said the reopening of the museum sent a “genuine message” that the country’s rich cultural heritage was not destroyed by “terrorism”, the Associated Press reports.