The One Thing

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

BY BRIAN SOKOL | MARCH 12, 2013

Ayman, 82, (left) sits with his wife Yasmine, 67, whom he says is the most important thing he was able to bring with him from Syria. "She's the best woman that I've met in my life," he says. "Even if I were to go back 55 years, I would choose you again." The couple, seen here in the Nizip refugee camp in Turkey, fled their rural home near Aleppo after their neighbor and his son, a shepherd, were brutally killed. Their home stands on land covered with olive trees, grapes, nuts, and fruits. Breaking into tears, Ayman describes how nearby farms came under attack, and how homes were looted and set on fire. "It is unbelievable that any human being can do this to another," he said.

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.