Families are free to relax outside in the evenings safe in the knowledge that they are too far from the fighting in the east of Damascus to be in danger since the government has pushed the rebels back.
Many people are focused on rebuilding their broken country and wouldn't ever leave Syria for this reason, but others are looking for advancement further afield due to the sanctions and war, there aren't many opportunities. My impression of the Syrian people is that they are supremely proud and loyal to their families and their country, but there comes a point when they have to choose between the two, either to stay or go. I spoke to many that are in the process of applying for refugee status, that have already received it, or are studying in Europe already having just returned home for the holidays.
It’s easy to find the statistics online about the countries that many Syrians are fleeing to; Germany and Sweden for example have the highest migration levels of all European nations due to their more relaxed stance. The more wealthy Syrian families are sending their children to study abroad due to the dangers they face at home, where they may consider applying for refugee status once there. Almost all the people I spoke to don’t want to have to do this as it would mean that they can never return. Leaving their beloved Syria is giving up their culture, family, heritage and life as they know it. This is no easy choice.
Mitabut Dahir, a retired geologist and ex-CEO of a government run nuclear power station sits at home on his sofa relaying the story of his kidnapping in a hushed tone, as if each breath is a struggle to push out. His eyes are foggy and faded and you can feel the struggles that he has had to endure in his lifetime. As a result of his position at the power plant he was targeted by a group of armed masked men and taken just outside of his wife’s place of work, a primary school. His car was a government car and he suspects that the men had been planning this moment for sometime. He quoted them as saying “Assad gave you this car and we want to take it!”. Alarmed by this, his first reaction was to throw the keys so the thieves wouldn't have an easy ride. He was taken and accused of being part of Bashar al-Assads regime. “No!” He said, “I’m not part of the regime. I work for part of the government.” He continues to cement his point “Regimes come and go, but the Syrian facilities (power plant) will stay. If you destroy them then we don’t have a country.” For six days he was held by this group of “mercenaries” as he puts it, given no food, very little water and having his arms and feet tied and a blindfold on for almost the entire imprisonment. His hands were only untied when he started to show the extreme discomfort due to underlying back issues. He described the cave as being filled with smoke and the room he was being held in locked with a guard outside the door. “They didn’t physically harm me” he said “it was mostly psychological”. After his family paid £700,000 Syrian for his release (all they had saved for years) he developed an ulcer from the stress of his captivity and subsequently had to have his stomach removed. Present day he finds it hard to be mobile and can't walk too far.
Many of the people I speak to in the areas that I documented and the stories that I’ve heard talk about the beginning of the troubles. Many took part in the demonstrations on the streets. A people that were looking for change and to make the country stronger, fairer, more prosperous have seen their worst nightmare turned into a reality. War… But like Maya told me, “like the Phoenix”, Syria might be on fire with no end in sight, but the people of the country still hold onto the ideals of helping each other through this crises. Being a family, forgiving past wrong doings and repairing their broken land. Syria will rise again.But for this driver it didn’t matter he was home.
Next to the Jesuit Community centre in the old city of Homs is the remains of a school playground. The children of the community come to play football once a week here. The school has yet to reopen and the local government havent given dates on when they will due to the extent of the damage in other areas of Homs.
A small boy plays with a playing card he found in the wreckage of homes that were distroyed in the fighting.
A young girl walks along the street in central Damascus, Syria where the amount of stores that sell prosthetic limbs has increased since the start of the war.
Twins play chess at Salamiyah sports centre. Chess is a popular game in Syria and Salamiyah has had some famous international players.
Waleed Sulus is the president of the Muhraduh sports club which was on the frontline during 2014 when Al-Nusra were 200 meters away from the town.Home to the first Olympic athlete Ghada Shouaa, who won a gold medal in the 1996 summer olympics.
Maya El-Sheikh listens to the game strategy for training. Women’s basketball is one of the many rights women have that would be taken away if the extremists ever enter their town in Muhradah. Home to the first Olympic athlete Ghada Shouaa, who won a gold medal in the 1996 summer olympics.
Photographed from the minaret of Umayyad Mosque, the firghting in East Damascus can be seen. Everday explosions can be heard from the east where a small area is still held by rebel groups.
Imad, the caretaker of the basketball courts, holds one of the rockets that flew into the town of Muhadah when the frontline was only a few hundred meters away from where he sits.
Abed Al Kareen Al Shibani, the Mayor of Salamiyah, as he pulls out his beretta (pistol) from his bag and an AK-47 next to his leg in the passenger footwell, “You never know in these times when you might need protection” he says
The Mayor of Salamiyah, Abed Al Kareem Al Shibani is looking to bring his town back to its former glory. Salamiyah is known in Syria for producing; performers, artists, writers.
Ahmad Al Sarout, who is a businesssman from Salamiyah, inspects his chicken feed and poultry farm. He invests a lot of money into the town to develop the infustructure that has been damaged during the crises.
Abed Al Kareen Al Shibani, the Mayor of Salamiyah, as he pulls out his beretta (pistol) from his bag and an AK-47 next to his leg in the passenger footwell, “You never know in these times when you might need protection” he says
Working to fix a machine that has stalled due to excess material getting into its working parts.
Shops are starting to reopen after intense fighting in the old city of Homs.
People relax at a local restaurant in the old city of Homs. Since the city was taken back by the Syrian government life is slowly returning to normal.
Omar with his family at his sons birthday in his brother Yannis' burger restuarant. Omar lives full time in Dubai and has brought his family back to Syria to see their home town.
Many young men give up their lives in a fight, they believe is for the freedoms of religion, expression and way of life that the rebel groups don't offer.
Abed Al Holfiz Barghouth returns to his home in Homs for the first time to look at the damage that has been caused during the fighting.
A family recently moved into one of the apartments in this block. Due to the obvious damage it is very affordable.
Sian crawls alone the living room floor of the apartment the her family has just reoccupied. A family recently moved into one of the apartments in this block. Due to the obvious damage it is very affordable.
A hole in the wall of a rooftop in Homs old city shows the intended target. Due to the intense fighting holes were made to fire out of to prevent return fire.
Maya is the manager and designer of the first restaurant thats opened in the centre of Homs. "The Skakespeare" is struggling with high bills that are imposed by the local government for water, electricity and gas.
The first restaurant to open in the otherwise deserted city centre of Homs. "The Skakespeare" is struggling with high bills that are imposed by the local government for water, electricity and gas.
Um Al-Zennar Church is an Orthodox church in the centre of the old city in Homs which was badly damaged in the fighting.
Fadi has a shop in the old city of Homs that was almost completely destroyed during the fighting. He sells christian religious objects. For example prayer beads or a statue of the virgin Mary.
Reconstruction has been slow but the people on the area are starting to return. Shops are starting to reopen after intense fighting in the old city of Homs.
Issam Jabour inspecting his home from the damage sustained in the old city of Homs. They were one of the first families to move back to the neighbourhood. However after hearing that they had returned, a few other families are coming back.
Children and men spend a warm evening talking playing and drinking tea. Most of the surrounding buildings in the area are unliveable however families are returning.
Samir is a Christian living with his family on the outskirts of Homs and has stayed in the area throughout the war. He said part of his wife's and his idea of having children was to bring happiness into what seemed to be a cold dark world during the fighting.
Most residential areas around Homs look like this in the centre. Families are slowly moving back into the area.
Food in Damascus is not in short supply. The markets are full of vegetables and meat. People go about their routines with the treat of being shelled at anymoment.
Food in Damascus is not in short supply. The markets are full of vegetables and meat. People go about their routines with the treat of being shelled at anymoment.
Food in Damascus is not in short supply. The markets are full of vegetables and meat. People go about their routines with the treat of being shelled at anymoment.
A taxi drives through the busy market with young childrren peering out the windows. Food in Damascus is not in short supply. The markets are full of vegetables and meat. People go about their routines with the treat of being shelled at anymoment.
A soldier stands guard in one of the bathhouses in the old city of Damascus. Men relax in the bathhouse on the old city of Damascus. The Bathhouse is a possible target for bombs so they have a soldier positioned inside at all times.
Men relax in the bathhouse on the old city of Damascus. The Bathhouse is a possible target for bombs so they have a soldier positioned inside at all times.
Umayyad Mosque in Damascus is a place for the people to go in the day to escape the heat and relax or pray. Families gather to eat picnics and children play inside the Mosque.
Umayyad Mosque in Damascus is a place for the people to go in the day to escape the heat and relax or pray. Families gather to eat picnics and children play inside the Mosque.
Tourism has been hit hard by the war. Many hotels are only renting out a small number of rooms at heavily discounted prices so as to stay open.
People go about their daily business even during intense fighting in the east of the city, during the day people try to have normality in their lives.