Syrian refugees fleeing Raqqa end up in Damascus

World Today

Syrian refugees fleeing Raqqa end up in Damascus

In Syria, fierce fighting is taking place near the ISIL ‘capital,’ Raqqa.

Syrian troops, backed by Russia, are attacking from the south; meanwhile U.S. backed Kurdish fighters advance from the north.

ISIL took control of the city two years ago, forcing many to flee. CCTV’s Xu Dezhi reports on one refugee’s journey to Damascus.

The refugee center is located in a south suburb of Damascus. Refugees there mainly come from ISIL-held areas like, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor.

In an unfinished room, we meet Abu Muhammad, who fled Raqqa on his own last year.

“ISIL took over everything, and made us inferior. They humiliate us. They did not allow us to live a normal life and stalked people everywhere. So one year ago, I decided to come here,” Muhammad said.

Most of his relatives are still in Raqqa.

“I can’t communicate with my family. I cannot. I cannot talk to them,” he said. He believes some family members are now imprisoned by ISIL.

Muhammad dismisses the hardships he faced during his escape as well as his situation here in Raqqa – worried much more about his imprisoned family being beheaded.