Friday, 20 November 2015

"Where the children sleep" by Magnus Wennman



Magnus Wennman 
is a recognized photographer from Stockholm, 
who decided to record in images 
the story of some Syrian children. 
'Where The Children Sleep', 
is the name of the Magnus project 
who travelled through various regions 
to learn about the sad stories 
of these families and children. 
In an interview with CNN, 
Wennman said he took pictures 
for a Swiss newspaper, "Aftonbladet", 
to demonstrate what this conflict is causing. 
"It's not hard to see that children need 
a safe place to sleep. 
They have lost hope. 
It is traumatic for a child 
to cease to be a child, 
to stop playing and laughing,"
he said.

Abdullah, who is 5 years old, has a rare blood disorder. 
In recent days he has been sleeping in a train station. 
He saw his sister being murdered and is in deep shock ever since. 
The boy needs urgent medical care but his mother has no way to help.

Ahmad was at home, when his family home was hit by a bomb. 
He was seriously wounded in the head but survived. 
But his brother died. 
Ahmad, and the rest of his family 
has been on the run since then 
and has no fixed place to sleep. 
So they all sleep on the ground.

Amir was still in his mother's womb 
when the attacks began in Syria. 
His mother believes he was traumatized 
while still in her womb. 
Now 20 months old, 
Amir does not utter any word. 
The family lives in a tent and have very little to survive on.

Fara, only 2 years old, 
lives under precarious conditions. 
Her father tries his best to change their circumstances 
but their dreams of a better life 
should not be achieved so easily. 
All they desire is a home with minimum conditions.

Lamar, 5 years old, 
had all kinds of toys at home. 
But her family was forced to leave everything behind. 
A bomb changed their lives. 
The family has tried various ways to get into Hungary. 
Now, the little girl sleeps with one blanket in the woods, 
very scared and very cold.

Moyad, 5 years old, 
and his mother were on their way to a local market, 
when a bomb exploded. 
His mother died immediately. 
The boy was left with serious injuries. 
Since then he has been recovering in a hospital.

Ralia, 7 years old, and Rahaf, 13, 
have been living in the streets of Beirut. 
They are from Damascus, but a grenade killed both their families. 
Since then, they have been sleeping in boxes, 
wherever possible, for over a year now, 
and have been  inseparable.

Maram, 8 years old, had just arrived home from school, 
when her house was hit by a missile. 
The roof of the house fell on top of her 
and she had to be transported to the emergency hospital.
 She was in a coma for 11 days,
 but she has regained consciousness.

Walaa is only 5 years old 
and longs to return to his home in Aleppo, his hometown. 
Right now lives in a refugee camp and cries every night.


And so many more anonymous victims of this cruel war in Syria, 
where the weakest suffer the most, 
the children, the women, and a whole population of displaced, destroyed people, 
destitute, hungry and cold, hopeless.

Where do they sleep tonight?

Think of your own privileges and comfort, your warm, cozy bed, 
and pray for those who are hungry, 
displaced, unwanted and very cold tonight.



























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