Raised in the Mud
Life in refugee camps. North Syria, 2012
The refugee camps along the Turkish-Syrian border in 2012 were meant to be a refuge, but they were little more than rows of makeshift tents on barren land. Thousands of families, uprooted by war, arrived seeking safety, only to face a new struggle—one of survival under harsh conditions.
Among the endless lines of tents and muddy pathways, children ran barefoot, playing in the dust, their laughter cutting through the heaviness of despair. They built toys from scraps, turned empty spaces into playgrounds, and created their own small worlds amid the chaos. Yet, behind their resilience lay an unforgiving reality. Many were malnourished, wearing the same tattered clothes for weeks. Schools existed but could barely accommodate 20 percent of the camp’s children, leaving most without education or structure. Their days were shaped not by lessons and play but by the fight against hunger, cold, and uncertainty.
In 2012, I documented some of the Syrian refugee camps along the Turkish border through a photography project. These camps, hastily constructed to shelter those fleeing the horrors of war, presented a stark contrast between the innocence of childhood and the harshness of their environment.
The photographs capture children at the heart of this story—playing and being joyful amidst squalid living conditions. Their laughter and games stand as a poignant reminder of resilience, but they also underscore the tragedy of lives uprooted by conflict.
Some of the photographs were later used by local Syrian NGOs in their campaigns, helping to raise awareness and support for those living in these dire conditions.