Syrian activists in the town of Sarmada, in the northern countryside of Idlib, organized a mud festival to highlight the suffering of displaced people – and to have some fun. This playful scene was captured by Fadi Al-Shami in January 2021. He began his photography career during the Syrian revolution, documenting the demonstrations, bombings and battles taking place on the frontlines of his home city, Damascus. As Al-Shami explains, ‘the camps in northern Syria are exposed to continuous rainstorms, causing sweeping mud torrents’. People gathered in the Al-Bara’em camp to enjoy games and entertainment.

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