photo essay: where the children sleep


ABDULLAH HAS A BLOOD DISEASE. FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS, HE HAS BEEN SLEEPING OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL STATION IN BELGRADE. HE WITNESSED THE KILLING OF HIS SISTER IN THEIR HOME IN DARAA, SYRIA. “HE IS STILL IN SHOCK AND HAS NIGHTMARES EVERY NIGHT,” SAYS HIS MOTHER. ABDULLAH IS EXHAUSTED AND IS IN POOR HEALTH, BUT HIS MOTHER DOES NOT HAVE ANY MONEY TO BUY MEDICINE FOR HIM.


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FIVE-YEAR-OLD TAMAM IS SCARED OF HER PILLOW. SHE CRIES EVERY NIGHT AT BEDTIME. THE AIR RAIDS ON HER HOMETOWN OF HOMS, SYRIA, USUALLY TOOK PLACE AT NIGHT, AND ALTHOUGH SHE HAS BEEN SLEEPING IN EXILE FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS NOW, SHE STILL DOESN’T REALIZE THAT HER PILLOW IS NOT THE SOURCE OF DANGER.


MOYAD AND HIS MOTHER NEEDED TO BUY FLOUR TO MAKE A SPINACH PIE. HAND- IN-HAND, THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO THE MARKET IN DARAA, SYRIA, WHEN THEY WALKED PAST A TAXI THAT WAS CARRYING A CAR BOMB. MOYAD’S MOTHER DIED INSTANTLY. THE BOY, WHO HAS BEEN AIRLIFTED TO JORDAN, HAS SHRAPNEL LODGED IN HIS HEAD, BACK, AND PELVIS.


28 / UNHCR © Magnus Wennman


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