syrians

Yasar Taha, a 15-year-old Syrian refugee, works illegally as a barber as well as in a local restaurant while attempting to go to school. If he stops working his family might lose the tent they live in, as they rely on his income along with his father’s to pay rent.

Samar Hijazie, a 47-year-old single mother and grandmother, finds a quiet moment before returning to attend to her children. She and her family have lived in the camps for almost five years.

A newborn baby sleeping in an “unofficial” refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley.

Mazed Tahab, a 39-year-old refugee, lost his eye when a firefight broke out in his neighborhood. He was found injured, and was held in captivity for over a year and deprived of medical treatment. He now tries to find work as a handyman to help his family survive in Lebanon.

A young mother sits with her children in their tent inside the Sad Nail camp in the Bekaa Valley.

A young boy waits for his turn to wash himself inside the tent he and his family live in.

Mother and daughter. Sad Nail camp, Bekaa Valley.

Adul became the “shawish,” or leader, of the refugee camp only five days before this photograph was taken. Normally the camp members vote to bestow this responsibility, but Adul’s father, who had held the title before him, died suddenly and left the responsibility of overseeing the camp to him.

Yasar Taha, sitting on his bike outside the camp where he lives.

A young boy plays inside a camp in the Bekaa Valley.

A young girl does chores in the kitchen where she and her whole extended family live.

Unnamed refugee camp, Bekaa Valley.

A teenage girl prepares coffee for her family.

Young children playing.

These two brother asked to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions. They escaped into Lebanon with a few family members, without even basic paperwork to prove their identities, and hope to return one day to help rebuild their homeland.