An Irish-Syrian citizen who fled Aleppo in 2014 has said her home city was "completely destroyed" after a recent visit.
Dentist Loujin Shakerdi has called Maynooth, Co Kildare, her home since arriving in Ireland in 2014.
The 13-year war Ms Shakerdi fled from left a devastated healthcare infrastructure in its wake. And she felt compelled to go back and help.
During a five-day humanitarian medical missions, the 25-year-old was stationed in Maarat al-Numan - a town south of Aleppo.
Ms Shakerdi said that some of the patients she treated had not received medical attention for over 14 years.
"There was no city left. It was completely destroyed. There was not a single roof left on a building. It was devastating to see," Ms Shakerdi told RTÉ News.
Amid the ruins of the Aleppo suburb, Ms Shakerdi's dental team treated 20 to 30 patients daily.
The humanitarian medics did not have access to electricity, so their ability to perform dental treatment was severely limited.
Emergency treatments and pain relief were the priority.
"We did as much as we could with what we had. But there was still so much more to do."
She added that while the humanitarian mission "felt like a dream" her circumstances make her feel guilty.
"Sometimes I can't help but feel a little bit of guilt because in a parallel universe, it could've actually been me in their position."
