Syrian Spirit

Ibrahim had been playing football with his friends after school when he fell and cut his finger. He ran up with glistening eyes to show me how it was bleeding. I asked him to go to his mother for a bandage.

He quickly ran off to a nearby tent he calls home and came back to proudly reveal his proficient First Aid skills; then threw in a victory sign for good measure  

#zaatari #syrian #syrian #refugee_life #refugee #children — with Naveed Anwarat AlMafrag , Zaatari refugee camp.

The Fountain

The Syrians are well known for their love of beautiful courtyards, with lush green plants & musical fountains. It's a stereotypically cliche scene in every Syrian melodrama series on TV to observe the men folk gathered around the fountain sipping their tea debating over village politics whilst the women watch on; gossiping and giggling in the kitchen.

The attempt to recreate some semblance of normality in their lives by reverting to their inherited customs is a true mark of the resilience of the Syrian refugees in Za'atari. The Syrian man who built this fountain was aiming to add some beauty back into the lives of his family. As far as they are concerned this is to make their lives a little happier and in no way represents their intention to stay in Jordan.

In fact, when news broke out at the end of September that Obama was going to bomb Syria all such projects were immediately put on hold. I guess they are back in progress now.

There was such palpable joy in this small 'room' that it brought tears to my eyes. Stepping in from the dust & heat outside into this enclosure was surreal. At night when the children are asleep, the adults reclaim this space and listen to the songs of Um Kulthoom & Abdel Wahab as they smoke their argeelas and reminisce about a country that is only a stone's throw away.

Cooking with Pride

This Syrian refugee is cooking in the makeshift 'kitchen' created in between the caravan & covered by a tent. She was chatting to me whilst adding the rice to her chicken broth to make Kabsa...a spicy rice dish. The smell was fabulous and with great pride she filled a spoon with the stock and insisted that I try it. It tasted as good as it smelt. When you are a refugee there are very few things that you have control over and even fewer that you can take pride in. Cooking for your family is just one way to maintain some semblance of normality and reinforce family bonds.

This Syrian woman is one of the more fortunate in Zaatari since her brother-in-law is a real handyman and laid down a cement floor for her kitchen. #zaatari #refugee_life #refugee_camp #refugees #syria #syrian #jo #middleeast #humanitarian #photojournalism

Home is where the Heart is

The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home. ~ Confucius

When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or ever will compare with, or effectively substitute for, the home's potential for positive influence. ~ Stephen Covey

A Father's Burden

“Son, there are times a man has to do things he doesn't like to, in order to protect his family.” ~ Ralph Moody

A Syrian man looks on as his children play in the setting sun. The sprawling camp of tents and caravans can be seen behind them with young boys playing football in the background. #zaatari #refugee_life #refugee_camp #syrian #syria #jordan #jo

Homeward Bound

This is a daily scene at the Za'atari Refugee Camp in Jordan. Every weekday afternoon, on this occasion it was an hour before before sunset, the trucks & buses arrive and are quickly filled to the brim.

Young boys climb up on the cargo truck first so that their relatives below can hand them their luggage. The boys remain on board to make sure everyone's luggage stays safe during the short trip home and also to facilitate its unloading upon arrival.

The transportation, arranged and paid for by the Jordanian government; takes the refugees across the border where they may be met by a member of the Free Syrian Army or left to their own devices to make there way home.

In late September, around 300 people a day were leaving the camp to return to Syria. The convoy arrived in a blaze of desert dust amongst a stir of excitement from the waiting crowd. Suddenly there was a hive of activity and shouting as everyone rushed over to load their luggage under the watchful yet distant eye of the security forces.

Ironically those who were informally organising the process (and keeping the journalists and photographers at bay) were the self-appointed street leaders of Zaatari Camp. An aggravated man quickly approached us when we dared to stray from the zone to which we'd been allotted. "You can only shoot from here. Do not come any closer" he commanded sternly. The protective stance towards those heading back home was palpable yet frustrating given that we had waited for 90 minutes in the 35C degree heat of the desert sun for the arrival of the truck convoys.

Once the cargo truck (actually a huge refrigerated truck for food produce) was loaded the crowd quickly dissipated towards the passenger bus awaiting them nearby. Within minutes the convoy drove off towards the border leaving us covered in a cloud of dust as we wondered what would become of these (and future) returnees.

Syrian Children at Za'atari Refugee Camp

Syrian children at the Zaatari Refugee Camp. Despite the difficult conditions they happily request to be photographed. When I engaged them and asked them to count to ten they did so in perfectly fluent English.

Should you happen to ignore a request for a photo from young boys then expect some retaliation & be prepared to have the occasional stones thrown at you. This is a tough environment for kids to grow up in. Dealing with the diaspora and the violence they have witnessed has been traumatic for many. As winter approaches its hard to imagine how these young children will be able to cope with the added hurdle of the bitter cold of the desert. FACT: About 13 Syrian children per day are born in the Za'atari Refugee Camp in Jordan. 21% are < 5 years old and 55% are <18. Source ~ UNHCR ~~~~ Courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment. ~ Napoleon Bonaparte ~~~~

Life goes on : A Syrian refugee bride

A #syrian bride-to-be prepares to leave the hair salon to go to her wedding ceremony. She met her groom via #whatsapp. They both live on the outskirts of the #zaatari #refugeecamp. Her name is Jawahir (translates to Jewels). She is 33 years old and her groom is 27. Although this is her wedding day she is finding it very difficult to feel happy since 48 hours ago she received news that her cousin had been killed fighting with the #FSA against the regime in her village of #Dira'a in #Syria. #refugees #refugee_life #marka #jordan #wedding # rituals #lifegoeson #life

Lonely Sunset

Sunset over Zaatari Refugee Camp as a lone Syrian child walks home to her tent on the dusty hills.

#Zaatari #refugee #Syrian #refugee_life #children #silhoette #sunset #photo #jordan #jo

A Day in the Life of a Syrian Refugee

Transporting mattresses home at sunset. Wheelbarrows are the main source of transportation for shopping, goods....and children.

#instagram #photo #galaxy_zoom #samsung  #photojournalism #refugee_life #refugee #Syrian #syria #sunset #refugee_camp #Zaatari #jordan #jo

The Desert Run

A very young #Syrian girl runs across the #desert at #subset to join her friends.  The #refugee #children if #Zaatari refugee camp can be found playing outside towards the end of day when the oppressive heat finally starts to cool. Notice the size of the trash dumpster silhouetted in the distance.

Syrian Refugees harvest Tomatoes in Al-Ashrafayiya

Syrian refugees from Hama'a picking tomatoes in Ashrafiya, Mafraq. The land is leased from the Jordanian land owners by Palestinian who are bedoiun refugees from Beir Al-Sabi'e. The Palestinian bedouins employ the syrian refugees. They also live alongside the Syrians in tents opposite the tomato fields.

The tomatoes that are being harvested will be exported to the neighbouring Gulf countries.

The going rate per hour for harvesting tomatoes is JD 1 per hour.

The syrians typically work from 7am  till 12 pm  and then again from 2pm till 6pm. So the most that they will make for thus bacjbreaking labour is JD 9 per day.

Jordanians typically work for JD5 per day since they choose not to work in the afternoon when they prefer to go home to be with their kids after school. 

According to the wife of the Jordanian landowner the relationship between the  Palestinian lessor and the Syrian farmers changes from employer and employee after working hours whereby they are seen to socialise together whilst he also ensures that they have sufficient water and electricity for their daily needs.

# refugees #syrians #farming #mafraq #jordan