• Syrian refugee Tesnim Faydo, 8, as she holds her drawing of a mother crying for her wounded daughter, in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey
    Syrian refugee Tesnim Faydo, 8, as she holds her drawing of a mother crying for her wounded daughter, in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey
  • Syrian refugee Abdullah El-Omer, 15, as he poses with a message written in Arabic that says: “I want an end to the war in Syria” in a barber shop he works at in Midyat refugee camp in Mardin province, Turkey.
    Syrian refugee Abdullah El-Omer, 15, as he poses with a message written in Arabic that says: “I want an end to the war in Syria” in a barber shop he works at in Midyat refugee camp in Mardin province, Turkey.
  • Syrian refugee Islem Halife, 11, as she shows a drawing of her home in Syria, as she sits in a classroom in Nizip refugee camp in Gaziantep province, Turkey. The writing in Arabic in the drawing reads, “God is great.”
    Syrian refugee Islem Halife, 11, as she shows a drawing of her home in Syria, as she sits in a classroom in Nizip refugee camp in Gaziantep province, Turkey. The writing in Arabic in the drawing reads, “God is great.”
  • Syrian refugee Ahmet Abdulkadir, 17, as he shows his drawing of his home in Syria, as he sits in a mosque in Nizip refugee camp in Gaziantep province, Turkey.
    Syrian refugee Ahmet Abdulkadir, 17, as he shows his drawing of his home in Syria, as he sits in a mosque in Nizip refugee camp in Gaziantep province, Turkey.
  • Syrian refugee Ahmet Cemal, 12, as he shows a drawing of his home in Syria, as his mother and his two brothers sit next to him in their tent in Nizip refugee camp in Gaziantep province, Turkey.
    Syrian refugee Ahmet Cemal, 12, as he shows a drawing of his home in Syria, as his mother and his two brothers sit next to him in their tent in Nizip refugee camp in Gaziantep province, Turkey.
  • Syrian refugee Kamer Topalca, 18, as she holds a message that reads: “My god save us. Let us to return back to our homeland safe. Let us live happily” in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey.
    Syrian refugee Kamer Topalca, 18, as she holds a message that reads: “My god save us. Let us to return back to our homeland safe. Let us live happily” in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey.
  • Syrian refugee Meryem Mahmo, 14, as she shows a drawing of her home in Syria, during a carpet weaving workshop in Midyat refugee camp in Mardin province, Turkey. The Arabic writing on the picture reads: “I want my home. I miss you Syria.”
    Syrian refugee Meryem Mahmo, 14, as she shows a drawing of her home in Syria, during a carpet weaving workshop in Midyat refugee camp in Mardin province, Turkey. The Arabic writing on the picture reads: “I want my home. I miss you Syria.”
  • Syrian refugee Mustafa Halebi, 16, as he holds a paper that reads in Arabic: “I am Syrian and I want to return to Syria” in Nizip refugee camp in Gaziantep province, Turkey.
    Syrian refugee Mustafa Halebi, 16, as he holds a paper that reads in Arabic: “I am Syrian and I want to return to Syria” in Nizip refugee camp in Gaziantep province, Turkey.
  • Syrian refugee Nur El-Huda, 9, as she shows a drawing of her home in Syria, in her classroom in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey.
    Syrian refugee Nur El-Huda, 9, as she shows a drawing of her home in Syria, in her classroom in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey.
  • Syrian refugee Ilaf Hassun (L), 9 and her sister Bera Hassun, 7, as they pose in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province, near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey.
    Syrian refugee Ilaf Hassun (L), 9 and her sister Bera Hassun, 7, as they pose in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province, near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey.
  • Syrian refugee Resad Bekur, 18, as he poses in a shop where he works in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province, near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey,
    Syrian refugee Resad Bekur, 18, as he poses in a shop where he works in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province, near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey,
  • Syrian refugee Ali Ristmo, 7, as he shows his drawing depicting a mosque during a lesson in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey.
    Syrian refugee Ali Ristmo, 7, as he shows his drawing depicting a mosque during a lesson in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey.
  • Syrian refugee Ali Addahar, 9, as he shows a drawing of his home in Syria, as he sits in his tent in Midyat refugee camp in Mardin province, Turkey.
    Syrian refugee Ali Addahar, 9, as he shows a drawing of his home in Syria, as he sits in his tent in Midyat refugee camp in Mardin province, Turkey.
  • Syrian refugee Gays Cardak, 6, who holds his drawing in a school library in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey. “I’m going to be a doctor and an engineer. We the engineers will rebuild Syria, and I’ll take the (soldiers) to hospital,” Cardak said.
    Syrian refugee Gays Cardak, 6, who holds his drawing in a school library in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey. “I’m going to be a doctor and an engineer. We the engineers will rebuild Syria, and I’ll take the (soldiers) to hospital,” Cardak said.
  • Syrian refugee Hale Selim, 13, as she shows her drawing of her home in Syria, in her tent in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey.
    Syrian refugee Hale Selim, 13, as she shows her drawing of her home in Syria, in her tent in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey.
  • Syrian refugee Reyyan Emin, 7, as she holds her drawing in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey.
    Syrian refugee Reyyan Emin, 7, as she holds her drawing in Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey.
  • A combination picture shows Syrian refugee Ele Cundi, 5, who poses as she sits with her friends in a kindergarten at Midyat refugee camp in Mardin province, Turkey, December 14, 2015 (top) and her drawing (bottom) January 12, 2016. Syria's conflict has left hundreds of thousands dead, pushed millions more into exile, and had a profound effect on children who lost their homes or got caught up in the bloodletting. The drawings of young refugees living in Turkey show their memories of home and hopes for its future. The pictures also point to the mental scars borne by 2.3 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey, more than half of them children. REUTERS/Umit Bektas PICTURE 1 OF 20 - SEARCH "EXILE DREAM" FOR ALL IMAGES
    A combination picture shows Syrian refugee Ele Cundi, 5, who poses as she sits with her friends in a kindergarten at Midyat refugee camp in Mardin province, Turkey, December 14, 2015 (top) and her drawing (bottom) January 12, 2016. Syria's conflict has left hundreds of thousands dead, pushed millions more into exile, and had a profound effect on children who lost their homes or got caught up in the bloodletting. The drawings of young refugees living in Turkey show their memories of home and hopes for its future. The pictures also point to the mental scars borne by 2.3 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey, more than half of them children. REUTERS/Umit Bektas PICTURE 1 OF 20 - SEARCH "EXILE DREAM" FOR ALL IMAGES

Young Syrians Dream of Home

Robert Mickelson

January 20, 2016

  • English
  • Arabic

Syria’s conflict has left hundreds of thousands dead, pushed millions more into exile, and had a profound effect on children who lost their homes or got caught up in the bloodletting. The drawings of young refugees living in Turkey show their memories of home and hopes for its future. The pictures also point to the mental scars borne by 2.3 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey, more than half of them children. Photos by Umit Bektas / Reuters

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