Syria, the other bank of the river

More than 220,000 people have died in Syria since March 15, 2011. Nearly four million Syrians have fled the fighting to neighboring countries. Among them, Turkey. These pictures from 2012 show families from the northwestern province of Idlib crossing the Asi – or Orontes – River into southeastern Turkey. Rebels from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) had then established border-crossing points along the river. At dusk and dawn, they helped Syrians – mostly families with children – board small boats to reach the other bank. Others entered Turkey by swimming across the river. The river was also used to send basic goods such as bread, rice, flour and medicines from Turkey to Syria. As of April 2015, nearly 1,8 million Syrians were living in Turkey.
  • A woman waits for her husband, who joined the Free Syrian Army (FSA), with their two children in the village of Azmarin, in northwestern Syria (11.10.2012 Azmarin/Syria)
  • Near the city of Idlib, many Syrians have fled their homes in the wake of heavy fighting between regime forces and rebels (04.10.2012 Idlib/Suriye)
  • As heavy fighting started in northwestern Syria, between 150 and 200 people each day used the Orontes River to flee to neighboring Turkey (11.10.2012 Azmarin/Syria)
  • Crossing to Turkey by boat on the Orontes River usually takes place at dawn and dusk. Scores of Syrian, mostly women and children, take high risks to flee their country (11.10.2012 Azmarin/ Syria)
  • Tens of thousands of families, in search of safety and shelter in Turkey, have been forced to leave their homes, their fields and all other belongings behind (11.10.2012 Azmarin/Syria)
  • Young Taha waited for two hours on the Syrian bank of the Orontes River for his family to cross with him into Turkey (16.10.2012 Azmarin/Syria)
  • Fighter from the Free Syrian Army in a forest near the city of Salqin, as he prepares to help families to cross the border with Turkey (13.04.2012)
  • Civilians cross the Orontes River into Turkey from Azmarin village, hoping to reach refugee camps at the Turkish border (11.10.2012 Azmarin/Syria)
  • In the morning hours, basic goods such as bread, rice, flour and medicines are sent to Syria through the Orontes River (16.10.2012 Hacipasha/Turkey)
  • The Free Syrian Army established border-crossing points along the Orontes River, helping families to enter into Turkey (11.10.2012 Azmarin/Syria)
  • A Syrian child runs towards the Orontes River in search for help after heavy shelling from regime forces hit the village of Azmarin (11.10.2012 Azmarin/Syria)
  • Nine-year-old Nur is receiving psychological support in the Boynuyoğun refugee camp (Turkey), as she has refused to talk since the death of three family members (23.03.2012 Boynuyogun, Hatay/Turkey)