Many Syrians from the countryside south-east of Idlib city voice a similar refrain; for years they were bombed by the Assad regime but they endured and moved on with life, until everything changed in 2019.
That year president Bashar Al Assad's troops were advancing on the rebel-held area, with fear spreading through its rural towns and villages over the fate awaiting regime opponents should the region fall. While Idlib city itself became a refuge of the rebels, the surrounding countryside bears the scars of a front line in the battle.
“The people are used to rebuilding,” said Alaa Sufi, 38, from Ma’arat Al Nu’man, a city about 30km south of Idlib that was levelled. "We would be bombed and remove the rubble then go back.
“The destruction is indescribable. Look, there is not any sign of life ... the criminal Assad regime destroyed everything. But we are happy because the regime is overthrown,” he told The National outside the city's Umayyad Mosque, which is pocketed by bullet marks.
As Mr Al Assad's soldiers moved closer, millions escaped to urban Idlib – north-western Syria's last pocket of rebel resistance – from where the rebels would launch their offensive last month that toppled the Al Assad family's 54-year rule.
The wider Idlib governorate came under repeated bombardment, leaving many towns flattened. A ceasefire from a 2020 agreement between the rebels' largest backer, Turkey, and Mr Al Assad's biggest military supporter, Russia, stemmed the violence somewhat, but reminders of the war remain.
Mustafa Ibrahim, another former resident of Ma’arat Al Nu’man, said almost everyone fled the area, with houses now standing empty and stripped of even their bare essentials.
"When the air strikes happened, we would remove the rubble and move on," he told The National. "But eventually we left with only our clothes, nothing else."
The 2020 ceasefire deal led to a stalemate of sorts, even if bombing campaigns were constant from the Assad regime. The area, stripped of everything with even the olive trees cut down, became a no-man's land, populated by neither side.
Hantoteen is a largely anonymous village typical of this predicament. Moulds of earth, broken through for soldiers to hide, hint at it being a frontline village. So, too, do the walls of rocks erected by troops for protection. Vehicles can now pass through the area but not much is left.
Of about 900 families who lived in the village, only three have returned, said Ahmed Mustafa Shabib, 25. He was busy digging foundations for a new home for the owners of a plot of land, who live in Turkey, when he spoke to The National.
Like everyone else, Mr Shabib fled Hantoteen in 2019. But he returned immediately after the fall of Mr Al Assad last month and has been staying at his cousin's house in the village. His cousin was killed in the Assad advance.
“I was full of happiness ... it is better than when you get married,” he said of his return. “We’ve been back since the liberation and haven't left. We couldn’t imagine that we would be back one day but with God's help nothing is impossible.”
In another town, Al Ghadfa, which was taken by the regime in 2019, homes have been raided of everything and even items in the mosque removed.
On Fridays, prayers are no longer carried out inside the mosque but on a patch of grass opposite, attended by a couple of dozen worshippers outside charred homes, scarred by the war.
Houthayfa Hamoud, 23, recounted a day in December 2019 that would change his life. “I was riding my bike from here. I heard on the wireless device that the air strike was about to hit."
A bombing, believed to have been carried out by Russia, struck a nearby building. “I was injured severely. Many buildings and houses were destroyed," Mr Hamoud said.
He suffered wounds to his chest and leg, and has a gaping scar on his wrist from the attack, which threw him into the air then to the ground, with his motorbike landing on top of him.
“I tried to pull myself up, but I realised the blood was coming out of my mouth," he told The National. "My left lung was damaged. I thought it would be my last moment.
“I shouted for help … suddenly some guys from the neighbourhood took me to the nearest hospital ... I received 11 surgeries.
"But I'm here again. I'm safe.”
RESULT
Chelsea 2
Willian 13'
Ross Barkley 64'
Liverpool 0
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
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Teaching in coronavirus times
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Grubtech
Founders: Mohamed Al Fayed and Mohammed Hammedi
Launched: October 2019
Employees: 50
Financing stage: Seed round (raised $2 million)
The years Ramadan fell in May
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
Results
2-15pm: Commercial Bank Of Dubai – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Al Habash, Patrick Cosgrave (jockey), Bhupat Seemar (trainer)
2.45pm: Al Shafar Investment – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Day Approach, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash
3.15pm: Dubai Real estate Centre – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Celtic Prince, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Sprint by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Khuzaam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Shadwell – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Tenbury Wells, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Jebel Ali Stakes by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
5.15pm: Jebel Ali Racecourse – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Rougher, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
MATCH SCHEDULE
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tuesday, April 24 (10.45pm)
Liverpool v Roma
Wednesday, April 25
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (10.45pm)
Europa League semi-final, first leg
Thursday, April 26
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (11.05pm)
Marseille v Salzburg (11.05pm)
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPECS
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Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
