Haunting portraits of Syria's child refugees that everyone should see
July 2024 · 6 minute read
2016-03-18T01:55:00Z
The Syrian Civil War is continuing to grind towards its six year, and the horrors of the conflict are becoming ever harder to quantify.
Due to the nature of the conflict, exact numbers are hard to come by. But as of the end of 2014, the United Nations estimated that almost half of Syria's civilian population had been uprooted by the conflict with over 3 million Syrians becoming refugees and a further 6.5 million having become internally displaced people.
Syrian refugee girl Aya Bandar, 6, from Hama, Syria, poses for a picture at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. AP
The immeasurable suffering of so many people is impossible to grasp. But in an effort to humanize those numbers, Associated Press photographer Muhammed Muheisen visited Syrian refugee camps in Jordan. In an effort to capture the life of refugees, Muheisen took a series of portraits of the displaced children of Syria.
We have featured some of Muheisen's most powerful photos below. Each photo features a quotation from the portrait's subject, as well as the subject's name, age, and home city in Syria.
"I remember nothing from Syria" — Mayada Hammid, 8, from Hassakeh.
In this Monday, March 14, 2016 photo, Syrian refugee girl Mayada Hammid, 8, from Hassakeh, Syria, poses for a picture at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. "I remember nothing from Syria," says Hammid.AP/Muhammed Muheisen
"I want to become a doctor to be able to help people" — Mohammed Bandar, 12, from Hama.
In this Sunday, March 13, 2016 photo, Syrian refugee boy Mohammed Bandar, 12, from Hama, Syria, poses for a picture at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. "I want to become a doctor to be able to help people," says Bandar.AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen
"I want to grow up and be educated" — Sajjida al-Hassan, 8, from Hama.
In this Monday, March 14, 2016 photo, Syrian refugee girl Sajjida al-Hassan, 8, from Hama, Syria, poses for a picture at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. "I want to grow up and be educated" Sajjida said. Children in these camps near the northern city of Mafraq say they miss their old lives in Syria, especially going to school.AP/Muhammed Muheisen
"I want to go back to Syria but my father told us that he wants to go to the United States of America" — Mona Emad, 5, from Hassakeh.
In this Friday, March 11, 2016 photo, Syrian refugee girl Mona Emad, 5, from Hassakeh, Syria, poses for a picture at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. "I want to go back to Syria but my father told us that he wants to go to The United States of America," says Mona.AP/Muhammed Muheisen
"I just want to go back to our home in Syria" — Khalid Rakan, 10, from Hama.
In this Monday, March 14, 2016 photo, Syrian refugee boy Khalid Rakan, 10, from Hama, Syria, poses for a picture at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. "I just want to go back to our home in Syria" Khalid said. About half of the 4.8 million Syrians who fled their homeland are children, and some of the most vulnerable live in dozens of makeshift tent camps, including Jordan, which has taken in close to 640,000 refugees. Children in these camps near the northern city of Mafraq say they miss their old lives in Syria, especially going to school.AP/Muhammed Muheisen
"I want to grow up" — Omar Suliman, 5, from Hassakeh.
In this Friday, March 11, 2016 photo, Syrian refugee boy Omar Suliman, 5, from Hassakeh, Syria, poses for a picture at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. " I want to grow up" Omar said. About half of the 4.8 million Syrians who fled their homeland are children, and some of the most vulnerable live in dozens of makeshift tent camps, including Jordan, which has taken in close to 640,000 refugees.AP/Muhammed Muheisen
"I remember our home in Syria and my school there. I just want to go back" — Mariam Aloush, 8, from Homs.
In this Saturday, March 12, 2016 photo, Syrian refugee girl Mariam Aloush, 8, from Homs, Syria, poses for a picture at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. "I remember our home in Syria and my school there. I just want to go back," says Aloush.AP/Muhammed Muheisen
“All I want is to go back to my school in Syria and see my friends” — Yasmeen Mohammed, 11, from Eastern Ghouta.
In this Sunday, March 13, 2016 photo, Syrian refugee girl Yasmeen Mohammed, 11, from Eastern Ghouta, Syria, poses for a picture at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. Mohammed, whose family fled their town, said she misses her old life. “All I want is to go back to my school in Syria and see my friends,” she said.AP/Muhammed Muheisen
"I want to become a teacher" — Hiba So'od, 6, from Hassakeh.
In this Saturday, March 12, 2016 photo, Syrian refugee Hiba So'od, 6, from Hassakeh, Syria, poses for a picture at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. "I want to become a teacher," says So'od.AP/Muhammed Muheisen
"I dream of going back to Syria to see my friends Raghd, Halima, and Najwa" — Zahra al-Jassim, 10, from Hama.
In this Monday, March 14, 2016 photo, Syrian refugee girl Zahra al-Jassim, 10, from Hama, Syria, poses for a picture at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. "I dream of going back to Syria to see my friends Raghd, Halima, and Najwa," says al-Jassim.AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen
“I used to go to the school back in Hama. I used to have friends there. Our home was destroyed in the war and we had to flee to Jordan. [Without an education] the best I can become is a driver" — Rakan Raslan, 11, from Hama.
In this Saturday, March 12, 2016 photo, Syrian refugee boy Rakan Raslan, 11, from Hama, Syria, poses for a picture at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. “I used to go to the school back in Hama,” Raslan said. “I used to have friends there. Our home was destroyed in the war and we had to flee to Jordan.” Rakan said that without an education, his future is in doubt. “The best I can become is a driver,” he said.AP/Muhammed Muheisen
"I remember the sound of bombings on homes in Deir el-Zour" — Ahmad Zughayar, 6, from Deir el-Zour.
In this Friday, March 11, 2016 photo, Syrian refugee boy Ahmad Zughayar, 6, from Deir el-Zour, Syria, poses for a picture at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. "I remember the sound of bombings on homes in Deir el-Zour," says Zughayar.AP/Muhammed Muheisen