Today’s podcast is an interview with Um Saleh, a Syrian woman from Deir Ezzor. Deir Ezzor is the largest city in Eastern Syria. Sitting on the shores of the Euphrates, close to the Iraqi border, it is a region known to be rich in oil. Um Saleh witnessed her city falling under the rule of ISIS in 2014, before attempting to flee to Kurdish held areas. Turned away on multiple occasions, she had no other choice but to flee with her family to Lebanon. In this interview, Um Saleh gives testimony to life under the self-proclaimed Islamic State, to the dangers of escaping their rule, and to the impossibility of return to her home.

#1 Um Saleh: Life Under ISIS -  ARABIC

This is the second podcast of an 8-part series. It is an interview with Abu Mohammed, a former policeman from the city of Homs, in Syria. Abu Mohammed fled to Lebanon with his family early on in the conflict, to avoid being involved with the regime’s repression after having witnessed its brutality. In this interview, taken in a refugee camp on the Lebanese-Syrian border, Abu Mohammed shares some general reflections on the impact of the war on the Syrian people, and of the responsibilities the regime holds at the roots of the conflict.

#2 Abu Mohammed: From Revolution to War - ENGLISH

Today’s podcast is an interview with Rayan, a Syrian widow living with her two children in a tent by the Syrian border in Lebanon. Rayan is an example of the resilience shown by women who have learnt to navigate a patriarchal society in the context of war. In this podcast, she speaks about her experience of the transition between the early uprisings in Syria and the unfolding civil war. She reflects on the last 5 years she has spent in Lebanon, and the difficulties of living as a young widow with two small children in such a hostile environment.

#4 Rayan: Women in War - ARABIC

#4 Rayan: Women in War - ENGLISH

Today’s podcast is an interview with Majdi, a Palestinian refugee living in Lebanon’s refugee camp Shatila. The camp was established by the ICRC in 1949 to accommodate the thousands of refugees who came from Palestine after the creation of Israel in 1948. Located on one square km of land, and originally built for 3,000, the camp today struggles with overcrowding as the influx of Syrian refugees into Lebanon continues. The current camp population is estimated to be around 22,000. Born and raised in Lebanon, Majdi has never been able to return to his homeland in Palestine. In this interview, he speaks about the situation of Palestinians in Lebanon, how the residents of Shatila have managed the arrival of Syrian refugees and his reflections on the difference between the meaning of return for Palestinians and Syrians.

#5 Majdi: A Palestinian Perspective - ENGLISH

Today’s podcast is an interview with a female Shawisha named Labeeba. The word Shawish - a masculine word in Arabic - was traditionally used to refer to men who managed migrant labor in Lebanon. However, since the start of the Syrian war and influx of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the word is now used to refer to the person nominated to act as a leader for each camp. Most Shawish are men and often rule the camp to their own advantage, taking a cut of peoples rent, syphoning off aid and controlling where people work. However, just off the main highway that runs from Tripoli to Tartous is a camp run by a woman. In this podcast, Labeeba tells us what it is like to be a woman leader of the camp.

#7 Labeeba: The Female Shawisha - ARABIC

Today’s podcast is an interview with a female Shawisha named Labeeba. The word Shawish - a masculine word in Arabic- was traditionally used to refer to men who managed migrant labor in Lebanon. However, since the start of the Syrian war and influx of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the word is now used to refer to the person nominated to act as a leader for each camp. Most Shawish are men and often rule the camp to their own advantage, taking a cut of peoples rent, syphoning off aid and controlling where people work. However, just off the main highway that runs from Tripoli to Tartous is a camp run by a woman. In this podcast, Labeeba tells us what it is like to be a woman leader of the camp.

#7 Labeeba: The Female Shawisha - ENGLISH

This podcast is an interview with Randa, a woman from Raqqa, now living in Lebanon’s Bekka Valley. Randa tells the story of how she  was smuggled out of Syria, and of the hardships of crossing the border illegally. In this interview she denounces the oppressive system of work many refugees are forced into, whilst referring to the widespread corruption that not even international organizations can escape.

#8 Randa: Exploitation in Lebanon -  ARABIC

#8 Randa: Exploitation in Lebanon - ENGLISH

These sound recordings were the result of the open mic sessions we held in Tel Abbas refugee camp in Lebanon in 2018.

Informal Recordings - Suleiman's song, Aged 10

These sound recordings were the result of the open mic sessions we held in various refugee camps in Lebanon in 2018

Informal recordings: Jean Al EIn Con - Song By Shayma

Informal Recordings - Choir Time

These sound recordings were the result of the open mic sessions we held in Tel Abbas refugee camp in Lebanon for 6 months.

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