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Faces of War: Syrian children make the most of makeshift homes

The real lives behind the civil war which the world barely notices.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY about 2.8 million Syrians living in refugee camps in Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan.

Many are registered with the relevant United Nations’ agencies. Some, however, have not yet come that far.

They are living in makeshift camps on the borders.

On a recent visit to some the official and ‘unofficial’ Syrian refugee camps in the area, photographer Khalil Hamra took some stunning portraits of the children he met there.

APTOPIC Mideast Jordan Refugee Children Photo Essay AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

At an unofficial camp in Amman, Raghad Hassan, 9, and Asmaa Abdel Sattar, 10, pose for the camera. They were living among about 300 families who had fled their homes in Hama, Homs and Aleppo – focus points of the bloody war.

Mideast Jordan Refugee Children Photo Essay AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Eight-year-old Nadi Mosailem poses for a portrait at Zaatari refugee camp, near the border with Syria in Mafraq, Jordan.

Mideast Jordan Refugee Children Photo Essay AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Ahmed Khalaf, 11, also lives at the Zaatari refugee camp with about 101,000 other Syrians.

Mideast Jordan Refugee Children Photo Essay AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Mohammed Mosailem is just four years old. He also lives in Zaatari.

PastedImage-37122 UNHCR / A McDonnell UNHCR / A McDonnell / A McDonnell

Girls on the Zaatari camp football team train with members of FC Bayern Munich.

Mideast Jordan Refugee Children Photo Essay AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

It is thought that about 2.8 million Syrian children – inside and outside the country – are missing out on getting an education because of the devastating impact of the civil war. Many refugee camps are now trying to incorporate classes into the everyday.

Mideast Lebanon Syria Elections AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

A Syrian girl looks through her tent window at a temporary refugee camp in the eastern Lebanese town of Marj, near the border with Syria.

Mideast Lebanon Syria Elections AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Back inside, the boy pictured in the above two images, enjoys some food at the Marj temporary camp.

Mideast Lebanon Syria Elections AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Two men and a little boy at the Lebanese camp. About 1.1 Syrian refugees are dispersed across camps in the country.

Read: Syrians in Ireland ask for 94 family members to be rescued from conflict

More: Cancer patients forced from their own countries can’t access treatment

Column: Western powers should not intervene in Syria

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    Mute Matt English
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 11:41 AM

    Keith is a fantastic leader now as he was on the pitch. Special Olympics recognise fully Keith’s leadership qualities and we are very proud to have him as an Ambassador for our programme. Keep up the great work for charities and in business.

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    Mute david lydon
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    Jun 3rd 2014, 12:35 AM

    Leader my arse Ireland won deck all with . Except many that makebelive triple crown

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    Mute Diarmuid Lenihan
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 10:55 AM

    Great to see he’s enjoying a successful life after retiring. The rugby lads do get allot of help though from their chums when they finally pack it in which is only right. Interesting to see what Drico will do now he’s retired.

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    Mute Domhnall
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 10:27 AM

    Gwan Woody.born leader and best toy in the box !

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    Mute Jack Dexter
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 10:49 AM

    Another retired footballer looking attention and I bet he does a lot for charity like most of us but the difference is he likes to tell everyone. They make me sick

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    Mute Yoo Wong
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 10:56 AM

    Having a bad day Jack?

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    Mute Jack Dexter
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 11:24 AM

    Im not Yoo but some of them retired sports people think we all love them but Im no sheep.We all have problems in life ecen you Yoo but we dont go moaning to the press.

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    Mute Moneybags
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 11:50 AM

    Do what are you doing now then ya gimp dexter !

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    Mute Jack Dexter
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 11:56 AM

    Are you signing and working Moneybags you scruffy git

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    Mute Truth Patrol
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 12:22 PM

    *retired rugby player

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    Mute Robert Collins
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 1:25 PM

    Moneybags pay no attention to him , everybody knows how he is !!

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    Mute Joe Conway
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 10:11 PM

    Dexter – where does it say in the article he does any charity work? Another Begrudger. You and your like make me sick.

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 11:24 AM

    I think some of the lads lost a few bob ,here what do you think ,good luck to him a nice pleasant man

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    Mute conor hickey
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 10:55 AM

    There is an isle….
    Good on you Keith. Gordon would be very proud of your achievements.

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    Mute Trevor Beacom
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 3:09 PM

    Nice guy and a rugby here. But then there’s the markets field
    …..

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    Mute Trevor Beacom
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    Jun 2nd 2014, 3:10 PM

    Edit hero

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