Wadi Barada


Wadi Barada is a river valley in southwestern Syria. The valley is home to 17 villages and towns.

Etymology

The word wadi means valley in Arabic. "Barada" is thought to be derived from the word barid, which means "cold" in Semitic languages.
The ancient Greek name. The river has also suffered from severe drought in the last decades, mainly due to the lower rainfall rates and the large increase in the population in the area.

Geography

Wadi Barada is located in the north-western part of the Syrian capital of Damascus, in the Qalamoun district. It is known for being a mountainous area and in direct contact with the eastern mountain range of Lebanon.
The Barada River is located in the western suburb of Damascus, it is 84 km long, stems from Zabadani, and drains in Al Otaiba Lake.
The region also has a main water source. The water of Ein Fajja in the Barada valley is a major source of the capital, providing drinking water to more than six million people in Damascus and its countryside.

Villages and towns of Wadi Barada

The following villages and towns make up Wadi Barada. The population numbers are according to the Central Bureau of Statistics for 2004.
English NameArabic NamePopulationSubdistrict
Souq Wadi Baradaسوق وادي بردى3,678al-Zabadani
Kafr al-Awamidكفر العواميد1,588al-Zabadani
Barheliyaبرهليا821al-Zabadani
Hurayraهريرة2,455Madaya
al-Husseiniyahالحسينية1,563Ain al-Fijah
Deir Qanunدير قانون4,213Ain al-Fijah
Kfeir al-Zaytكفير الزيت4,170Ain al-Fijah
Deir Muqaranدير مقرن4,803Ain al-Fijah
Efraافرة1,029Ain al-Fijah
Ain al-Fijahعين الفيجة3,806Ain al-Fijah
Basimahبسيمة2,812Qudsaya
Ashrafiyat al-Wadiأشرفية الوادي2,101Qudsaya
Jdeidat al-Wadiجديدة الوادي5,227Qudsaya
Jamrayaجمرايا1,156Qudsaya
al-Hamahالهامة10,045Qudsaya
Qudsayaقدسيا33,571Qudsaya
Dummarدمر96,962Damascus

Syrian civil war

Syrian rebels captured the village of Ain al-Fijah in February 2012. Engineers and technicians who worked at the water spring remained in place. After the rebel capture of Wadi Barada, government forces imposed a blockade on the villages. The army retook control of the town in 28 January 2017 and the next day the Army took full control of Wadi Barada.