Manbij, a city of 72,000 people northeast of Aleppo, is relatively stable compared to other Syrian cities. This stability has turned it into a destination for some of Syria’s internally displaced people, who arrive in search of security, jobs, markets, and education.
This is Manbij today through the photographs of Zaid Mohammad. The photos were taken on October 21, 2013.
Manbij has been under the control of the Free Syrian Army since July 2012 and is relatively calm and secure. Its markets are bustling and population increasing. While it is far from any shelling, it still experiences air raids from time to time.
An estimated 18,000 displaced families have settled in Manbij, approximately a quarter of the city's current population. Most are from Aleppo and its suburbs. This child is from Al-Safira, a city that has seen intense battles for the past year. He fled with his family, and now works at this stall for around $5 USD per month.
The sight of destroyed buildings no longer surprises anyone here.
In Manbij, it is rare to see armed men or military vehicles. Some of the militiamen have volunteered to steer traffic in the city.
This child in the third grade is trying to skip school by climbing a wall. Some schools have opened their doors while waiting for others to be rehabilitated.
Yasser sells fuel and is getting ready for winter. He says he has government fuel (from areas controlled by the regime) as well as refined and Iraqi fuel.
The headquarters of the Organization for Future Youth used to be housed in a Baath party building. It’s now open for a blood donation drive, filling thousands of bags to transport to Aleppo, Homs, and other areas in need. This is one of many humanitarian and relief campaigns carried out by the city’s civil society organizations.
Slogans asserting the principles of the revolution, such as freedom, equality, and coexistence, recently started spreading on the city's walls in response to the growing power of ultraconservative, Al-Qaeda allied Islamist militias.
Activists were outraged when the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) raised their black flag on the roof of the city's hotel. Activists pulled it down and replaced it with the flag of independence with the names of the city's martyrs written on it.
This young girl participated in a recreational event organized by the educational charity foundation Jana during the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha. The word "freedom" is written on her forehead.
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