MAHDI IS 18 MONTHS OLD. HE HAS ONLY EXPERIENCED WAR AND FLIGHT. HE SLEEPS DEEPLY DESPITE THE CHAOTIC SITUATION AT THE BORDER.


© Magnus Wennman


SHEHD LOVES TO DRAW, BUT RECENTLY, ALL OF HER DRAWINGS HAVE HAD THE SAME THEME: WEAPONS. “SHE SAW THEM ALL THE TIME, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE,” EXPLAINS HER MOTHER WHILE THE LITTLE GIRL SLEEPS ON THE GROUND. NOW SHE DOES NOT DRAW AT ALL. THE FAMILY DID NOT BRING PAPER OR CRAYONS WITH THEM WHEN THEY FLED. SHEHD DOES NOT PLAY ANYMORE, EITHER. THE ESCAPE HAS FORCED CHILDREN TO BECOME ADULTS AND SHARE CONCERN FOR THE FUTURE. THE FAMILY HAS HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING FOOD DURING THEIR JOURNEY, AND SOME DAYS THEY HAVE HAD TO MAKE DO WITH THE APPLES THEY PICK FROM TREES ALONG THE ROAD. IF THEY HAD KNOWN HOW HARD THE JOURNEY WOULD BE, THEY WOULD HAVE CHOSEN TO STAY AND RISK THEIR LIVES IN SYRIA.


IT IS AFTER MIDNIGHT WHEN AHMED FALLS ASLEEP IN THE GRASS. THE ADULTS ARE STILL AWAKE, FORMULATING PLANS FOR HOW THEY WILL CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH HUNGARY. AHMED IS SIX YEARS OLD, AND HE CARRIES HIS OWN BAG OVER THE LONG STRETCHES THAT HIS FAMILY WALKS BY FOOT. “HE IS BRAVE AND ONLY CRIES SOMETIMES IN THE EVENINGS,” SAYS HIS UNCLE, WHO HAS TAKEN CARE OF AHMED SINCE HIS FATHER WAS KILLED IN THEIR HOMETOWN OF DEIR EZ-ZOR IN NORTHERN SYRIA.


30 / UNHCR © Magnus Wennman


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