Picture and story: The oldest seller of wood poles in Tabqqa

The octogenarian uncle, Wasel Al-Shibli, a resident of Tabqqa, has been selling wood poles since the city was founded in 1968.

Uncle Wasel comes from the village of Jubb al-Khafi in the countryside of Manbij. He settled in the city of Tabqqa after establishing the Euphrates Dam and building the city. He worked in selling poplar wood poles until 2005 and then imported wood, and he still maintains this profession until now.

Uncle Wasel told Aso News Network that he is continuing in his profession despite the decline in demand for it, and the limited use of wood for homes and mud barns in the countryside, and that his advanced age did not prevent him from continuing with his profession that has accompanied him since he was a young man.