The Fall
Following an intense military campaign that saw ISIS loose previously held areas in Iraq and Syria, the remnants of the organisation and its followers took refuge in the small city to Baghuz located on the banks of the Euphrates River, near the Iraqi border. Initial estimations put the number of civilians at less than 10.000 and preparations to receive them were made by international NGO’s and local authorities. The constant streaming of women, children, elderly and wounded that ensued the following days left everyone wondering how all these people managed to survive so far.
A woman and her young child sit on the ground after fleeing heavy fighting in Baghuz, at a civilian screening point set up by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the outskirts of the city, on 12 February, 2019.
A young boy, part of a group of women and children who fled heavy fighting in the city of Baghuz, holds his sister by the hand as they walk towards a civilian screening point set up by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the outskirts of the city, on 12 February, 2019.
Children, carrying their few belongings, walk towards a civilian screening point for suspected ISIS families, after fleeing heavy fighting for control of the city of Baghuz, on 12 February, 2019.
Women and children waiting to board a truck that will transport them to the al-Hol refugee camp which houses suspected ISIS families, after fleeing heavy fighting in the city of Baghuz, on 12 February, 2019.
Women and children boarding a truck that will transport them to the al-Hol refugee camp which houses suspected ISIS families, after fleeing heavy fighting in the city of Baghuz, on 12 February, 2019.
A volunteer with the Free Burma Rangers examines a young boy at a civilian screening point where people believed to be ISIS families fled to avoid heavy fighting in the city of Baghuz, on 12 February, 2019.
Women seen at a civilian screening point on the outskirts of Baghuz, after fleeing intense clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and ISIS for control of the city, on 9 February, 2019.
Discarded blankets, left by civilians who fled heavy fighting in the city of Baghuz, seen inside a tent at a civilian screening point set up by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on 12 February, 2019.
A woman clutching her child tries to climb up a hill towards a civilian screening point for suspected ISIS families, after fleeing heavy fighting for control of the city of Baghuz, on 12 February, 2019.
Two Ukrainian women from Crimea arrive at a civilian screening point, after fleeing heavy fighting in the city of Baghuz, on 12 February, 2019.
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