The One Thing

The one item Syrian refugees made sure to grab before leaving home.

BY BRIAN SOKOL | MARCH 12, 2013

Waleed, a 37-year-old doctor, poses for a portrait in the Médecins Sans Frontières clinic where he works in Domiz refugee camp in Iraqi Kurdistan. He is carrying his most valuable possession: a photograph of his wife. Although they are together, he says, "This is important because she gave me this photo back home before we were married, during the time when we were dating. It always brings me great memories and reminds me of my happiest time back home in Syria." He fled Syria 20 days after his wife gave birth. "I left the country for the sake of my family. I don't want to see my children grow up as orphans."

UNHCR/B. Sokol

 

Brian Sokol is a U.S.-born freelance photographer focused on documenting human rights issues and humanitarian crises in developing and post-conflict societies. Previously based in South Asia and South Sudan, he is now in New York but continues to cover social issues in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East for a broad range of editorial, NGO, and humanitarian clients. He is currently working on a recurring series, "The Most Important Thing," on what refugees around the world have made sure to carry with them from their homes, with support from UNHCR.