Image copyright AFP Image caption The war-damaged block was in a formerly rebel-held area that had been bombed before Syrian forces retook it

At least 11 people including four children were killed when a war-damaged apartment block collapsed in the city of Aleppo, state media said.

A child was the only survivor from the collapse in the formerly rebel-held area of Salaheddin, which was bombed by Syria and Russia before being retaken.

Residents have been eking out a living in ruins across Syria, with little rebuilding taking place.

Syria's authorities have so far focused their efforts on basic infrastructure.

Several other buildings in Salaheddin near the five-storey block that caved in are on the brink of collapse, AFP reported.

UN satellite data from 2017 suggested that more than 35,000 structures in the city had suffered damage.

The small amount of residential reconstruction that has taken place there has been carried out privately, AFP reported.

What reconstruction is taking place in Syria?

The collapse of the building has highlighted the problem of buildings rendered unsafe by war damage that have yet to be rebuilt.

Entire cities and suburbs have been shattered by fighting between the Syrian government, rebel groups and the Islamic State (IS) group, with the Syrian government, its ally Russia and the US-led coalition against IS all carrying out thousands of air strikes.

Image copyright AFP Image caption A boy was the only survivor to be pulled from the rubble

Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption He was then carried to safety by volunteer rescuers

The US says it will now cost between $300bn (£230bn) and $400bn to rebuild Syria's ruined housing and infrastructure.

However the West has refused to provide funds unless there is wide-ranging political reform in Damascus.

In the city of Raqqa, where IS formerly had its headquarters, the US-led coalition carried out more than 6,000 air strikes during the 2017 campaign to drive out the extremists, reducing much of the city to rubble in the process.

Some families have since returned but rebuilding work there has yet to start in earnest.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption A Syrian family's return to Raqqa after five years of struggle

Other areas to see widespread destruction include the city of Homs and the Damascus suburbs of Daraya and eastern Ghouta, where government forces besieged rebels and eventually forced them to agree ceasefire deals.

Last year the governor of Homs province Talal al-Barazi told AP that Syria needed a million new housing units.

The Syrian authorities have imposed a reconstruction tax of 0.55% on some goods and are also appealing to the Syrian business community and expatriates to provide funds.

Russia, Iran and China, who have backed Mr Assad, have made some investments in the country. Western sanctions against Syria have also made it difficult for foreign companies to work there, Reuters reported.</s>A child is the sole survivor of the collapse in the formerly rebel-held neighborhood of Salaheddin in Aleppo

DASMASCUS, Syria – Four children were among at least 11 people killed when a war-damaged block of flats collapsed in Syria's second city Aleppo on Saturday, February 2, state media said.

One child was pulled out alive from the rubble of the 5-storey block after rescue teams toiled, many of them with their bare hands, to remove the shattered breeze blocks that had buried him, Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographers reported.

He was the sole survivor of the collapse in the formerly rebel-held neighborhood of Salaheddin, the official SANA news agency reported.

Saleheddin was heavily bombed before the army overran rebel districts with Russian support in late 2016.

What little reconstruction there has been among the ruins has been carried out privately. The state has limited public works to the restoration of basic infrastructure.

Many of the buildings around the block that caved in still bear the scars of the ferocious four-year battle for the northern city, with several on the brink of collapse.

Washington has estimated the costs of rebuilding Syria's devastated housing and infrastructure at between $300 billion and $400 billion.

But it warned last month that, while overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad was no longer a goal of US policy, it would contribute no reconstruction funds without fundamental reform in Damascus. – Rappler.com</s>DAMASCUS: Syria's state news agency SANA says a building damaged during years of war in the northern city of Aleppo has collapsed, killing 11 people.

SANA said the five-story building collapsed early Saturday, killing most of those who were inside and only one person was rescued alive. The report said the building is in the eastern Salahuddin neighbourhood once held by rebels.

Aleppo had been divided for four years starting in the summer of 2012 between a government-held west and a rebel-held east.

In 2016, the Syrian army launched a months-long offensive that eventually brought the whole city under government control. Syria's nearly eight-year conflict has left more than 400,000 people dead and left broad parts of the country destroyed.</s>A damaged building in the Syrian northern city of Aleppo collapsed Saturday, killing 11 people, including four children, said the Assad regime's news agency.

SANA said the five-story building, damaged during years of war, collapsed early Saturday, killing most of those who were inside. A single person came out alive.

The building was reportedly located in the eastern Salahuddin neighborhood of the city, once held by rebels.

Aleppo had been divided for four years, starting in summer 2012, between a regime-held west and a opposition-held east. In 2016, the Syrian regime launched a months-long offensive that eventually brought the whole city under Assad regime control.

Syria's nearly eight-year conflict has left more than 400,000 people dead and left broad parts of the country destroyed.</s>In Syria, a building damaged during years of war in the northern city of Aleppo has collapsed, 11 people killed in this incident.

Five-story building collapsed early today, killing most of those who were inside and only one person was rescued alive. The building is in the eastern Salahuddin neighbourhood once held by rebels.

Syria’s nearly eight-year conflict has left more than 400,000 people dead and left broad parts of the country destroyed.</s>DAMASCUS, Syria: At least 11 people including four children were killed when a war-damaged apartment block collapsed in the city of Aleppo, state media said.

A child was the only survivor from the collapse in the formerly rebel-held area of Salaheddin, which was bombed by Syria and Russia before being retaken.

Residents have been eking out a living in ruins across Syria, with little rebuilding taking place.

Syria’s authorities have so far focused their efforts on basic infrastructure.

Several other buildings in Salaheddin near the five-storey block that caved in are on the brink of collapse, AFP reported

UN satellite data from 2017 suggested that more than 35,000 structures in the city had suffered damage.

The small amount of residential reconstruction that has taken place there has been carried out privately, AFP reported.</s>The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A building damaged during years of war in the Syrian northern city of Aleppo collapsed Saturday, killing 11 people, including four children, said Syria’s state news agency SANA.

SANA said the five-story building collapsed early Saturday, killing most of those who were inside and only one person was rescued alive.

The report said the building is in the eastern Salahuddin neighborhood, once held by rebels.

Aleppo had been divided for four years, starting in the summer of 2012, between a government-held west and a rebel-held east. In 2016, the Syrian army launched a months-long offensive that eventually brought the whole city under government control.

Syria’s nearly eight-year conflict has left more than 400,000 people dead and left broad parts of the country destroyed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.</s>The only survivor of the collapse on Saturday was a child.

The building is located in the eastern Salahuddin neighbourhood, which was formerly held by anti-government rebels. The area was bombed by Syria and Russia before being retaken by the Assad-led Syrian government.

There has been little rebuilding in the ruins across Syria as people struggle to make a living.

According to a UN satellite data from 2017, more than 35,000 structures in the city had been damaged in the violence.

Entire cities and suburbs have been shattered by fighting between the Syrian government, rebel groups and the Islamic State (IS) group, with the Syrian government, its ally Russia and the US-led coalition against IS all carrying out thousands of air strikes, says BBC.

It will cost between $300bn and $400bn to rebuild Syria's ruined housing and infrastructure, says the US. However the West has refused to provide funds unless there is wide-ranging political reform in Damascus.

Russia, Iran and China, who have backed Assad, have made some investments in the country. Western sanctions against Syria have also made it difficult for foreign companies to work there, Reuters reported.</s>At least 11 people, including four children, have died after a block of flats collapsed in Aleppo, Syria, on Saturday, according to state media.

One child was pulled out alive from the rubble of the five-storey, war-damaged block after rescue teams worked to remove the shattered breeze blocks that had buried him, AFP photographers said.

He was the sole survivor of the collapse in the formerly rebel-held neighbourhood of Salaheddin, the official Sana news agency reported.

Saleheddin was heavily bombed before the army overran rebel districts with Russian support in late 2016.

Many of the buildings around the block that caved in still bear the scars of the ferocious four-year battle for the northern city; several are on the brink of collapse.

Washington has estimated the costs of rebuilding Syria’s devastated housing and infrastructure at between $300bn and $400bn.

But it warned last month that, while overthrowing the president, Bashar al-Assad, was no longer a US policy goal, it would contribute no reconstruction funds without fundamental reform in Damascus.</s>Four children have died after a war-damaged block of flats collapsed in Syria today killing at least eleven, state media has said.

The shock incident took place in the formerly rebel-held neighbourhood of Saleheddin, Aleppo this morning and involved a five-storey block of flats.

One child was pulled out alive from the rubble after rescue teams toiled, many of them with their bare hands.

The workers had to remove the shattered breeze blocks that had buried him. He was the sole survivor of the collapse, the official SANA news agency reported.

Pictures taken at the scene show rescue workers comforting the stricken child as they worked hard to free him.

While others show the level of devastation wrought by the building collapse, as shattered bricks lie in a heap on the ground.

Saleheddin was heavily bombed before the army overran rebel districts with Russian support in late 2016.

What little reconstruction there has been among the ruins has been carried out privately. The state has limited public works to the restoration of basic infrastructure.

Many of the buildings around the block that caved in still bear the scars of the ferocious four-year battle for the northern city, with several on the brink of collapse.

Washington has estimated the costs of rebuilding Syria's devastated housing and infrastructure at between $300 billion and $400 billion.

But it warned last month that, while overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad was no longer a goal of US policy, it would contribute no reconstruction funds without fundamental reform in Damascus.
A collapse of a building damaged by the war in Aleppo, Syria, kills 11 people.