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Over 13th - 28th June, London's St-Martin-in-the-Fields Church hosts a photographic exhibition, Living in Exile, an intimate portrayal of the experiences of young Iraqi refugees amidst an uncertain future in Syria.
In the summer of 2008 British photographer Tom Saunderson, with the support of the UNHCR, worked with a group of young Iraqis who had sought refuge in Damascus, teaching them the basics of photography and talking about their lives as refugees.
The work the young Iraqis produced provides an original and highly personal glimpse into the hopes and fears of ordinary Iraqis in the wake of the violence which has torn their country apart and uprooted their lives. Prior to fleeing Iraq, the young photographers experienced some of the most brutal effects of the conflict and some have endured the hardships of life as a refugee living in exile for several years.
Living in Exile: Iraqi Refugees in Syria runs during Refugee Week from 13th to 21st June, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Crypt, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ
This exhibition has been supported by UNHCR, Olympus UK and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
For further information please contact:
Tom Saunderson on 07736 564 641 or tom@newexposure.org, or
Laura Padoan tel. 020.7759.8092 or padoan@unhcr.org
Background Information
The crisis in Iraq has uprooted more than 3 million people, with more than 1.5 million in refuge in neighbouring countries. This is the biggest population displacement the Middle East has experienced since 1948 - and its effects will be seen for years to come.
Nearly half of the displaced Iraqis residing in Syria are children, of whom around 500,000 are of school age. The impact on them has been immense. Many young Iraqis are victims of torture or have witnessed horrific scenes of violence. Others are still not able to attend school. As time passes, the hope for a peaceful childhood, a stable family life and normal education is being swept away for many of them.
Resettlement to a third country like the UK offers a solution for some of the most traumatised and vulnerable refugees, but the need for resettlement is much greater than the number of available places.
The UN Refugee Agency provides emergency shelter and coordinates humanitarian assistance to more than 220,000 Iraqis in Syria. But UNHCR’s £181 million operation in Iraq and neighbouring states like Syria is less than half funded and certain programmes may never be implemented unless urgently needed funds are received soon.
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