Russian Servicemen Give Toys, Honey To Children In Orphanage In Syria's Latakia

LATAKIA (Syria) (UrduPoint news / Sputnik - 22nd September, 2018) Russian military personnel visited an orphanage in Syria's western Latakia province where they presented toys and Russian honey to the children and gave a Russian language lesson to them.

Girls received dolls while boys got construction sets from the Russian servicemen.

The military personnel also told the children about their work in Syria.

"It is very important for us to participate in the restoration of peaceful life on the Syrian soil. It is one of the priorities for the Russian servicemen. It is important to see children's eyes full of joy and their happy smiles," Alexei Chagrin, the head of the Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation, told reporters.

Children living in the orphanage study, take part in various sports and pursue art there. A certificate they receive after finishing their studies is equivalent to a school certificate. They also receive a recommendation letter that allows them to study in a college.

Foraz Haj, the director of the orphanage, said that the institution accommodated 45 children who had lost their parents in the course of the Syrian war.

Syria has been devastated by years of violent civil war which claimed lives of thousands of people and displaced millions of others. The Syrian authorities, supported by Russia, have recently been engaged in efforts to rebuild the war-torn country.