Lama, Age: 25, Occupation: University art teacher, Nationality: Arab Syrian, Religion: Sunni Muslim. I wasn’t afraid of death because I had no experience of it. Four years of war has changed that. I now live in Aleppo, the most dangerous place in the world. But I'm still determined to dream, live and enjoy every atom of fresh air and white cloud. If I survive this war, I want to visit China's Great Wall, to practice Indian meditation and to keep on drawing. © Isaa Touma
Maya, Age: 29, Occupation: Artist, Nationality: Arab Syrian, Religion: Sunni Muslim. After I graduated from the University of Aleppo, I wanted to share my happiness with my family in Idlib. But my happiness didn't last. While I was there, Islamic extremists attacked the city and surrounding area. My family and I were able to flee to Latakia, where we are now. I have no idea what happened to my parents’ home. © Isaa Touma
Angela, Age: 35 Occupation: Pharmacist, Nationality: Kurdish Syrian, Religion: Muslim. I studied pharmacy in Russia; it has been awful not being able to dispense medicine to people who need it so badly. In 2012-2013, medicine was particularly hard to find. I couldn’t stay in Aleppo. After three years of war, I moved back to my village, away from the stench of the dying city. © Isaa Touma
Cyrine, Age: 18, Occupation: Student, Nationality: Arab Syrian, Religion: Sunni Muslim. My friends and I go out as much as possible. We will soon lose all of this. See you later – my friends are waiting for me at the restaurant. © Isaa Touma
Shahi, Age: 20, Occupation: Art student, Nationality: Kurdish Syrian, Religion: Muslim. I’m from a village near Kobani. At the time we were still occupied by ISIS, I had to take exams in Aleppo to enrol in the Faculty of Fine Arts. We walked for three days, crossing the Turkish border and back, afraid all the time of mines. But I passed the exam; I’m so happy! © Isaa Touma
Hiba, Age: 31, Occupation: UN volunteer, Nationality: Arab Syrian, Religion: Sunni Muslim. After 13 years of economic autonomy, I'm terrified every day that will be taken away from me if Aleppo falls into the hands of extremists. I would be trapped in my apartment, unable to go out unless accompanied by a male family member. I have panic attacks when I think of losing my life, my job, just because I'm a woman. © Isaa Touma
Sally, Age: 29, Occupation: Archaeologist, Nationality: Armenian Syrian, Religion: Armenian Orthodox. The last four years have been full of frustrations. But the greatest shock was losing my scholarship to go to Europe and earn my PhD in Archaeology. The programme was stopped after the travel ban was imposed on Syrian citizens.
Now, ironically, all I want is to stay here. I worry about my family, though, my friends, my country. I even worry about losing my head, since ISIS issued a fatwa declaring that anyone studying archaeology should be decapitated. © Isaa Touma
Enfwan, Age: 24, Occupation: Graphic Designer, Nationality: Arab Syrian, Religion: Sunni Muslim. When the war started, I convinced all of my relatives and friends to leave town so that I wouldn’t have to worry about their safety. As for me, I didn't have the courage to leave. I love my life here. But day by day, with the on-going destruction, Aleppo is changing. And more and more people have gone. It’s no longer the city I know. I’ve now decided to leave as well. © Isaa Touma
Diana, Age: 25, Occupation: English literature student, Nationality: Kurdish Syrian, Religion: Muslim. In March 2014, I went to Istanbul to look for work. It had become too hard to live in my neighbourhood in Aleppo. But I couldn’t find a job and had to leave again. In a way, I wasn’t sorry. Syrians – especially women – are exploited in Turkey. Now I’m back in Aleppo. © Isaa Touma
Nour, Age: 21, Occupation: Lawyer, Nationality: Syrian, Religion: Christian. I like my work and my workplace is safer than my home in the Christian quarter. But my parents want me to give up my job. We argue about it a lot. Staying together gives them a feeling of safety. © Isaa Touma
Zindan, Age: 22, Occupation: Student, Nationality: Kurdish Syrian, Religion: Muslim. For me and my fiancé, men and women are equal. I will leave Aleppo if we are forced to change our lifestyle. © Isaa Touma
Dima, Age: 21, Occupation: Student, Nationality: Arab Syrian, Religion: Sunni Muslim. Since the war started, I've said goodbye to so many people. I stopped meeting people so I wouldn’t have to say goodbye any more. I've lost any sense of being alive. I'm staying in Aleppo to finish my studies, and every night I count the bombs exploding around my house until I fall asleep. © Isaa Touma
Zanous, Age: 26, Occupation: Jewellery maker, Nationality: Kurdish Syrian, Religion: Yazidi. I’m not afraid to die, but I am afraid of a mental or physical handicap. I believe that God is the almighty savior, and I intend to stay here in Aleppo. © Isaa Touma
Hiba Allah, Age: 24, Occupation: Economist (unemployed), Nationality: Arab Syrian, Religion: Sunni Muslim. My engagement party is in two months. I'm looking for a job and I don’t know what to do. I live here, where there's war, loss, destruction, insecurity and a permanent feeling of deprivation. I'm trying to hang on to hope but maybe it doesn't exist. Someone advised me to hold my engagement party by candlelight since there's no electricity in our city. We’re falling apart as a result of our own mistakes. We’ve done everything wrong and things will remain as bad as they are now. © Isaa Touma
Laure, Age: 29, Occupation: Photographer, Nationality: Armenian Syrian, Religion: Armenian Orthodox. I grew up in a very mixed society. Most of my friends were Muslims. They were very open and I never felt that my relationships with them put me in any danger. Today, that changed. All my Sunni friends and even Christians fled Aleppo. They were so frightened of the future. I keep thinking: if the Sunnis are scared of the fanatics entering the city, what am I, a Christian and half Armenian, doing here? I’m certain I’ll end up a veiled woman in the hands of extremists. © Isaa Touma