The magazine of the art-form of the photo-essay
“A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine. Fabulous!”
Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film & documentary maker
June 2014 back issue
by Giles Duley
A Family's Story, Za'atari Refugee Camp, Jordan. 2014
"We have rights to dream and rights to achieve those dreams" - Amin
3 years of war
6.5 million internally displaced people
2.4 million Syrian refugees
560,000 in Jordan alone
Za'atari Camp with over 100,000 refugees
Siwar, Amin and their five children
One family
A story for Save the Children
Amin and Siwar with Mayam, 8, Salwa, 4 and 8 month
old Safa who was born in the camp
Salwa's mother worries about her and her other children.
"They are homesick and miss their cousins and
grandparents, they too are lonely and issolated here."
Amin jokes with Salwa.
Mayam dotes on her sister Safa.
Siwar prepares chicken noodles.
The tent that used to be home they now use as a kitchen and for storage.
The family's pet cat 'Ratcatcher', stands guard in the tent.
Silwa with her only doll.
Amin washes his feet before prayer. "The supply of water is far away. This makes washing difficult."
Amin reads the Quran whilst Salwa cleans the last of the rice from the pan.
Siwar chats and laughs with her neighbours. "We
treat our neighbours like family. We all live in the
same conditions with the same suffering. We left Syria
because of unemployment and shelling. Our house
was destroyed. Most of our family are in Syria and
Lebanon, we are the only family members in Jordan."
Salwa plays with her father's prayer beads.
Mayam with her cousin Ameer.
Salwa waits for dinner.
Amin cuddles Salwa to keep her warm. Its very
cold at night and the family often can't afford to buy
the gas cylinders needed for heating.
Amin holds his youngest daughter Safa who was born in the
camp eight months ago. The family sees her as a blessing
that has helped them get through the hardships of the camp.
The family enjoys dinner. In this one room the seven of them live, eat and sleep.
