Maysun Visual Journalist & Storyteller

More than 2700 Palestinians who were forced to leave fleeing persecution in Iraq, were stranded in 3 temporary camps made of tents, since May 2006. Thirty-four thousand Palestinians lived in Iraq before the American invasion in 2003. Many have since faced harassment, threats of deportation, abuse by the media, arbitrary detention, torture and murder. All of the Palestinian refugees who had lived there have been relocated to third countries, but often separating family members. August 17th, 2009. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border between Syria and Iraq. ©MAYSUN

A Palestinian woman from Iraq who lost his son that had been killed by a militia group. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

Religion is important for most of all the refugees in the camp. They are muslim sunnies. This is one of the reason they were threatened or killed by the iraqi militias (chiies) after Saddam Hussein's fall. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

Wall at the border with Iraq. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

The house of Ibrahim, who ran away from Iraq with his family and are stucked in the camp since 2006. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

The kitchen at the house of Ibrahim, who ran away form Iraq with his family and are stucked in the camp since 2006. Many of the fires are caused by naked flames meanwhile they are cooking. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

Palestinian regufees don't have permission to go out of the camp. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

Wife of Abu Nawfak, both palestinian survivors of the Iraqi Diaspora. The Iraqis killed 2 of their son, one of them kidnapped and the other one shot in front of his family. They tried to scape to Siria but the goverment sent them to Al Tanaf. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

Barren land. No water. High temperatures. during the day and freezing nights. Sand storms. Desert have no mercy. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

Too much time and harsh conditions can drives one person crazy. Refugees try to be active, talk, play and work with each other in anything to stay psychologically and physically sane. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

Posters and drawings demanding help from Europe countries, which had promised helping and caring and after they had abandoned them. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

Abu Nawfak, a palestinian survivor of the dispora of Iraq. The Iraqis killed 2 of his son, one of them kidnapped and the other one shot in front of his family. They tried to scape to Siria but the goverment sent them to Al Tanaf. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

A man takes some water from the water container. Water shortage is a real problem for the inhabitants of Al Tanf. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. 2009. MAYSUN.

View of doves flying over Bassim Mohamad Abu Salam's tent. Before coming to Al Tanf Camp, he was and agricultural science professor at Baghdad University until his brother was killed and his family was threatened to death. His father died of grief for what happened. He has now built a garden in the desert that feeds the community. August 17th 2009 at Al Tanf Camp in No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. © MAYSUN.

Thirty-four thousand Palestinians lived in Iraq before the American invasion in 2003. Many have since faced harassment, threats of deportation, abuse by the media, arbitrary detention, torture and murder. More than 2700 palestinians were forced to leave due to the war, were stranded in 3 camps made of tents, like – Al Tanf camp – , in no man's land between Syria and Iraq from May 2006 to 2010. After that they were relocated to several countries lie Iceland, Italy or Canada, often separating members of the same family.

The house of Bassim Mohamad Abu Salam. Before coming to Al Tanf he was agricultural science professor at Baghdad University until his brother was killed and his family was threatened. His father died of grief for what happened. Now he has now built a garden in the desert that feeds the community. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

A Palestinian man making exercises. Too much time and harsh conditions can drives one person crazy. Refugees try to be active, talk, play and work with each other in anything to stay psychologically and physically sane. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

More than 2700 palestinians who were forced to leave because of the war in Iraq, are stranded in 3 camps like this. camp made of tents since May 2006. The same kind of situation, and tents than in 1948. Thirty-four thousand Palestinians lived in Iraq before the American invasion in 2003. Many have since faced harassment, threats of deportation, abuse by the media, arbitrary detention, torture and murder. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

Hazana, a 95 year old survivor or two Diasporas and the oldest member of Al Tanf. The first one in 1948, The Nakba (The Disaster) and the second one in 2006 in Iraq. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

High temperarutes and naked flames in the kitchen cause fires. Fire reduce a tent to ashes in 17 seconds. In January 2009 a pregnant woman died on this fire. Al that remains is a gap. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

The great- grandson of Hazana, a 95 year old survivor or two Diasporas and the oldest member of Al Tanf. He was born in the camp. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

The school of Al Tanf. As they don't have better conditions they have to turn the tents into classrooms. Al Tanf Camp. Al Tanf Camp. No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. MAYSUN

View of cracked soil at Al Tanf Palestinian Camp. The high temperatures during the day and freezing nights, sand storms and lack of water make survival a real challenge. August 17th 2009 at Al Tanf Camp in No man's land at the border of Syria and Iraq. © MAYSUN.

Thirty-four thousand Palestinians lived in Iraq before the American invasion in 2003. Many have since faced harassment, threats of deportation, abuse by the media, arbitrary detention, torture and murder. More than 2700 palestinians were forced to leave due to the war, were stranded in 3 camps made of tents, like – Al Tanf camp – , in no man's land between Syria and Iraq from May 2006 to 2010. After that they were relocated to several countries lie Iceland, Italy or Canada, often separating members of the same family.