Kuwaiti media delegation visits traumatized, triumphant Mosul
Group briefed on destruction, reconstruction of historic city
IRBIL: A Kuwaiti media delegation, representing chief editors of a number of Kuwait newspapers and Kuwait Journalists Association (KJA), visited the Iraqi city of Mosul after its recent liberation from the grip of the so-called Islamic State (IS). The delegation is among the first Gulf and Arab media groups to visit the city after its liberation, and was briefed with the destruction in Mosul, especially the Old City and archaeological sites.
Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait Times Abd AlRahman Al-Alyan voiced regret over the destruction in the city, hoping that life would return to the historic city after years of displacement. The effects of war and destruction are visible on most of Mosul’s houses riddled with bullet holes, he said, adding the situation is tragic, especially in the Old City. He added that the residents of Mosul are currently working to restore life to their city as soon as possible, stressing at the same time the need to help them, “materially and psychologically”.
“No words can describe what was seen in Mosul, except for ‘tragedy’ on all levels,” said Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Deputy Director General for Editorial Affairs and Editor-in-Chief Saad Al-Ali.
Despite the victory over terrorism, Mosul has paid much for it and there needs time to rebuild, he said. “We congratulate the Iraqi people on the victory against terrorism on the one hand, and on the other, we regret what we saw,” Ali said. The reconstruction process needs determination and hard work for decades as people of Mosul need to be rehabilitated psychologically and socially due to dispersion and destruction, he added.
The delegation’s visit reflects the professionalism of Kuwaiti media, underlined Ali, pointing out that it was an opportunity for those newspapers to deliver their views on the city to their readers, especially before the donor conference for the reconstruction of Iraq, which was announced by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. KJA Trustee Adnan Al-Rashed told KUNA: “What we saw today in Mosul is sad and joyful at the same time, as it is a victory and the beginning of IS’ end.” In a similar statement, Editor-In-Chief of Al-Anbaa daily Yousef Al-Marzouq urged the people of Mosul to be patient, calling on them to take part in the reconstruction process. — KUNA