Volunteers protect cultural relics in Syrian museum amid conflict

Men recalled their days volunteering to defend cultural relics in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib Province in northwest Syria amid conflict. The Museum of Maaret al-Numan suffered partial damage due to sabotage by opposition forces during their conflict with Syrian government troops in 2012.

Fortunately, the majority of the museum's archaeological holdings, including its world-famous mosaic paintings, were protected by local young citizens.

In the summer of 2012, the opposition forces stormed Maaret al-Numan, and government troops were too exhausted to provide timely support.

Initially, the museum staff stayed on site, awaiting government staff to transfer the collection. As the fighting intensified and roads were blocked, the staff realized the collections were at risk of being looted.

At this critical moment, some local young people volunteered to safeguard the museum.

"We gathered about 50 young people to safeguard this place day and night. We piled sandbags in front of the paintings as a protective measure because the opposition forces kept attacking us, whether at night or during the day," said one of the men who defended the museum.

These men said they used sticks as weapons and sandbags to defend the museum.

The museum's iron gate is very heavy, and although the opposition forces have guns, they lack artillery and thus cannot easily breach it.

Nonetheless, it takes great courage to face armed men with guns for months using only sticks.

During the defense efforts, some of these young people were shot and some made the ultimate sacrifice. In retaliation, the opposition forces even took their families from their homes and executed them.

Despite these horrors, these men said that no one retreated during those years.

"Even without weapons, we must defend our civilization. The opposition forces want to steal our entire civilization. They are just thugs who destroy the civilization and history of this country under the instruction of external forces. We are defending what we believe in," said the man.

Under their protection, Syrian government staff successfully transferred most of the museum's collections.

The government has now begun the restoration and rehabilitation of the museum and has reinstalled the mosaic murals they safeguarded.

Volunteers protect cultural relics in Syrian museum amid conflict

Truck drivers and their cargoes sought refuge in a Shanghai activity hub as Typhoon Bebinca, the strongest typhoon to hit the city in decades, made landfall on Monday morning, unleashing heavy rains and winds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour.

In the Pudong District, situated on the southeastern tip of Shanghai, the impact of Typhoon Bebinca was stark, with trees and road signs uprooted, construction sites disrupted, and bicycles scattered across the ground.

Shanghai is not prone to strong typhoons, but local authorities have made emergency plans.

In Lingang Special Area, an activity hub was transformed into a temporary shelter for over 130 truck drivers and their cargoes.

"With such strong winds, it's not safe to park my truck on the street. Trees could fall. Parking here is a safer choice. The service is good here. It's clean, and it also provides food. We can take a shower here," said Wang Shaodong, a truck driver from east China's Anhui Province.

"The Donghai Bridge has been closed, as the typhoon is approaching. That's why we came here. They provide us with bedding, and air conditioners were turned on. So we are staying here. There are also meals downstairs," said Gong Xiangge, a hazardous cargo driver from east China's Shandong Province.

"We call these truck drivers 'men living on wheels.' The 13th typhoon [of this year] brought gales, with maximum wind speed reaching 36.9 meters per second, so danger may come at any time. So staying on the side of the street is unsafe for both trucks and drivers," said Fan Jianrong, deputy director of Lingang Special Area Investment Holding Group.

Although traffic resumed on all roads and bridges across Shanghai starting from 20:00 on Monday, precautions are still in place as Typhoon Pulasan, the 14th of the year, has formed in the northeastern Pacific and could follow a similar path to Typhoon Bebinca.

The director of the center said that the shelter remains open to those in need, ensuring that assistance is readily available for individuals affected by the poor weather.

Truck drivers seek shelter as powerful typhoon hits Shanghai