Original version

BBC World Service South Asia

Assignment

Factual

Investigations and journeys into the heart of global events from BBC correspondents.

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

Assignment: Syria’s Secret Library

Documentaries

News

Syria’s Secret Library

28/07/2016 GMT

BBC World Service - Assignment, Syria’s Secret Library

The story of the library in a besieged Syrian town providing a lifeline to its community

The story of the library in a besieged Syrian town which is providing a lifeline to a community shattered by war.

Away from the sound of bombs and bullets, in the basement of a crumbling house in the besieged Syrian town of Darayya, is a secret library. It is home to thousands of books rescued from bombed-out buildings by local volunteers, who daily brave snipers and shells to fill its shelves. In a town gripped by hunger and death after three years without food aid, Mike Thomson reveals how this literary sanctuary is proving a lifeline to a community shattered by war. 

*Omar, the FSA soldier pictured above who was the last voice heard in this programme has been killed in fighting.*

(Photo: Omar Abu Anas, a Free Syrian Army soldier reads on the front line)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Assignment

Syria’s Secret Library

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service South Asia

About BBC World Service