Darayya

For localities in Lebanon, see Daraya (disambiguation).
Darayya
داريا
Darayya

Location in Syria

Coordinates: 33°27′N 36°15′E / 33.450°N 36.250°E / 33.450; 36.250
Country  Syria
Governorate Rif Dimashq Governorate
District Darayya District
Nahiyah Darayya
Elevation 689 m (2,260 ft)
Population (2004 census)
 • Total 78,763
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Climate BSk

Darayya (Arabic: داريا‎) is a suburb of Damascus in Syria, the centre of Darayya lying 8 kilometres (5.0 miles) south-west of the centre of Damascus. Administratively it belongs to Rif Dimashq.

The city had a population of 78,763 as of 2005, making it the 19th largest city per geographical entity in Syria.[1] Darayya has an altitude of 689 metres (2,260 feet). It is one of the oldest cities in Syria, reportedly the place where Paul the Apostle had his conversion (30s AD), "on Damascus road". Patriarch Gregory III Laham, the spiritual leader of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church was born here on 15 December 1933 as Lutfy Laham.

Darayya has seen heavy fighting during the Syrian Civil War. The city was an early hotspot for anti-government protests and subsequent government oppression. In August 2012, Assad's regime performed the most horrible and bloody massacre up to that time, what was later known as Darayya massacre,[2] and a second time on 4 January 2013.[3] However, as of summer 2013 fighting continued in the city with most of the municipality controlled by the armed opposition forces.[4]

References

  1. ↑ General Census of Population and Housing 2004. Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Rif Dimashq Governorate. (Arabic)
  2. ↑ Сирия пересчитывает расстрелянных (Коммерсантъ, 27 августа 2012)
  3. ↑ Сирийские войска вытеснили боевиков с юго-запада Дамаска (Russian)
  4. ↑ Эвакуация раненого солдата под Дамаском

External links

Coordinates: 33°27′N 36°15′E / 33.450°N 36.250°E / 33.450; 36.250

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