The civilian unrest in the Syrian Arab Republic has been ongoing since March 2011 and is continuing to affect civilians, particularly in the most vulnerable segments of the population. Official data from surrounding countries and UNHCR’s own registration figures indicate that as of December 2012, around 400,000 people have fled from the Syrian Arab Republic to the neighboring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and nearly 40000 have been killed. Most of them civilians.
The situation keeps on deteriorating in villages and cities in the country, leaving people without protection , shelter, food and water. Many have been killed while the others are facing fear every day. While large numbers were able to leave Syria and take refuge in neighboring countries many have not been able to leave and therefore every minute of the day exposed to conflict and violence.
As a photographer, it is my call to through the camera lens capture and share my experiences where ever I travel. The crises in Syria did catch my attention and interest right from the start of the uprising and also before. However, having access and being abel to get inside the country was difficult: with the accelerating violence and unstable situation in Syria it became almost impossible for journalists to know when and how to access hot spots of the conflict.
At defining moment for myself, I decided to go to Lebanon and wait for the right moment to get into Syria. It took me a lot of time to find a way in and it was not without its hazards. Once inside, I had the chance to experience at the heart of the conflict be part of what civilians were going through every day. I spent nearly three month with families and the free Syrian army, trying to understand what they were thinking, feelings and experiences and I was invited to capture their life in very private moments.
I want to continue to tell this story to sensitize the world on what is happening in Syria and to make people reflect on the destruction and pain that war brings to people’s lives. Sharing these images would even emphasize the need to open access for humanitarian agencies into Syria as soon as possible.
Alessio Romenzi
