Children of war

• Prize
• Photographer
  AHMED DEEB, Turkey
• Studio
  FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER

On the road between Idlib and Aleppo. At the back of the pick-up, the youngest fighter of
Ahrar al-Sham, left, Abou al-Bara Binshi, 16-years-old, he left his family in Turkey and
went back to Idlib to join the Islamist group of Ahrar al-Sham to fight the Syrian regime
forces along with his cousins.

"One must not be afraid of, is dying as a martyr for the cause, it is even an honor to
fall in this way. But it is certain that fear is there, permanently. I know that it will
eventually dissipate with time ... " Abou al-Bara said.

The new recruits are becoming younger. Most of them are out of school, often in a
situation of failure. In Idlib, 20 to 30% of pupils aged 4 to 17 have deserted the schools
and prefer to engage in armed factions.

Ahmed DEEB, Palestinian photojournalist based in Istanbul,Turkey. I got a Bachelor degree in radio and television at al-Aqsa University in Palestine.

I have been working in the Middle East region for the past 9 years including the Syrian conflict and its impact on civilians 2012-2016, Palestinian–Israeli conflict 2008-2013, the Egyptian revolution 2011-2012 and the news from Turkey 2014-until now. Recently I have been covering Europe refugee crisis in Greece and France. (2015-2016)

I have been working for Al Jazeera English, Agence France Presse (AFP), Anadolu Agency, Middle East Eye, Washington Post, The Guardian, Euronews, RTL, Canal France International, CAPA TV and others.

Besides, I teach and give trainings for journalists and activists on shooting and editing video and photography.