The green shoots of life return to northern Syria

The earth-shaking thuds of the bombs have largely subsided. On the streets of the ramshackle metropolis of Idlib and in its outlying areas, there may be as an alternative a cacophony of hammers. They tak-tak-tak away on new buildings rising up from the rubble, and on new roads and pavements being constructed to accommodate the swelling inhabitants.

At a model new American-funded maternity hospital within the centre of the town, newborns relaxation in state-of-the-art incubators within the neonatal intensive unit care, nurses in gleaming uniforms gently taking good care of them. The power was opened in February.

“It’s significantly better now,” says Dr Najwa Khuzeirah, the 39-year-old obstetrician overseeing the shift. “The distinction now could be that there’s extra safety and security, and we will make a greater life for the infants.”