Workers toil at a makeshift oil refinery in Syria - in pictures

Many amateur refineries have sprung up in the country since civil war broke out in 2011

A boy works at a makeshift oil refinery near the village of Tarhin, in an area under the control of Turkish-backed factions in the northern countryside of Aleppo, Syria. AFP

A man works at a makeshift oil refinery near the village of Tarhin. Many amateur refineries have sprung up in Syria since civil war broke out in 2011. AFP

Smoke belches from a tanker at a makeshift oil refinery near the village of Tarhin, in the northern countryside of Aleppo, Syria. Pollution from amateur refineries is causing huge health and environmental problems. AFP

A man walks near installations at a makeshift oil refinery near Tarhin, in Aleppo, Syria. Amateur refineries appeared following a drastic decline in production at professional refineries in the war-torn country. AFP

A boy shovels coal at a makeshift oil refinery near Tarhin, in the northern countryside of Aleppo, Syria. Many children work at these sites, under appalling conditions. AFP

A boy is pictured at a makeshift oil refinery near Tarhin, in Aleppo, Syria. AFP

A boy works at an amateur oil refinery near Tarhin, Aleppo, in Syria. Many people working in these refineries, often those displaced by the fighting, suffer health issues caused by pollution. AFP

A man works at a makeshift oil refinery near Tarhin, Aleppo, Syria. Ordinary Syrians are refining crude oil into benzene, kerosene and diesel at these places. AFP

A worker fills a barrel with fuel produced at an amateur oil refinery near Tarhin, in Aleppo, Syria. AFP

A young child working at a makeshift oil refinery near Tarhin, in Aleppo, Syria. AFP

A worker takes a break among palls of pollution at a makeshift oil refinery, near the village of Tarhin, in Aleppo, Syria. Health risks faced by workers include exploding oil drums, burns and exposure to poisonous fumes and chemicals. AFP

A man labours at a makeshift oil refinery near the village of Tarhin, in Aleppo, Syria, while pollution billows from chimneys in the background. AFP

A boy holds up a bottle of oil at a makeshift refinery near Tarhin, in Aleppo, Syria. AFP

Men work at a makeshift oil refinery near Tarhin, in Aleppo, Syria, as black smoke billows behind them. Areas surrounding such refineries are left with contaminated groundwater and agricultural land. AFP

Men covered in grime work at a makeshift oil refinery near Tarhin, in Aleppo, Syria. Many workers are covered by a layer of black polluting residue. AFP

An aerial view of a makeshift oil refinery near the Syrian village of Tarhin, in Aleppo, shows the extent of the operation. AFP

Young boys covered in black polluting residue haul a heavy sack near the Syrian village of Tarhin, in Aleppo. NGOs have sought to highlight the plight of child workers at these amateur refineries. AFP

A man works at an amateur oil refinery near the Syrian village of Tarhin, in the northern countryside of Aleppo. AFP

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