Protestors shout slogans during one of the almost nightly demonstrations in the neighborhood of Bustan al Qasr, Aleppo, on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 . Protests in Aleppo, the second largest city in Syria and its economic center, have been going on for 11 months but has been little touched by the fighting that has ravaged many cities across the country.
A fighter with the Free Syrian Army walks through heavily damaged buildings in the Karm Jebel area of Aleppo, Syria, on Monday, November 5, 2012. Four months after fighting began in Aleppo, the war here has drawn to a stalemate on most fronts although heavy shelling and close combat continues in areas such as this one.
A woman cries in despair amidst the rubble of her neighborhood moments after an aerial bombardment released four to five parachute bombs in the Karm Homed neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, on Monday, March 18, 2013. Approximately 26 people were killed and over 60 were injured.
A civilian films debris and smoke coming from an apartment building that was hit by an airstrike in the neighborhood of Bustan al Qasr in Aleppo, Syria, on Monday, August 6, 2012 which claimed at least eight lives including five children from the same family. At least two people, including a child, were trapped under rubble, complicating rescue attempts. Bustan al Qasr, a Free Syrian Army controlled district in south west Aleppo, has consistently been shelled and attacked by helicopters and planes over the last two weeks after the FSA entered Syria's commercial capital and its most populated city. According to the UN, over 200,000 civilians have fled the city, whilst many other displaced remain inside, seeking refuge in mosques, parks, and schools. Bustan al Qasr remains almost fully populated by its residents who chose not to flee.
A father runs out of his damaged apartment carrying his daughter following airstrikes by warplanes in the neighborhood of Bustan al Qasr in Aleppo, Syria, on Monday, August 6, 2012, which killed at least eight people including five children from the same family. Bustan al Qasr, a Free Syrian Army controlled district in south west Aleppo, has consistently been shelled and attacked by helicopters and planes over the last two weeks after the FSA entered Syria's commercial capital and its most populated city. According to the UN, over 200,000 civilians have fled the city, whilst many other displaced remain inside, seeking refuge in mosques, parks, and schools. Bustan al Qasr remains almost fully populated by its residents who chose not to flee.
Men carry the body of Hatem Qureya, 15, after he was trapped under rubble following an airstrike in the neighborhood of Bustan al Qasr in Aleppo, Syria, on Monday, August 6, 2012 which claimed at least eight lives including five children from the same family. Hatem later died en route to the field hospital. At least two people, including a child, were trapped under rubble, complicating rescue attempts.
A man, who ran out of his damaged apartment block, cries in fear as he watches a fighter jet soar above following an airstrike in the neighborhood of Bustan al Qasr in Aleppo, Syria, on Monday, August 6, 2012, which killed at least eight people including five children from the same family. Bustan al Qasr, a Free Syrian Army controlled district in south west Aleppo, has consistently been shelled and attacked by helicopters and planes over the last two weeks after the FSA entered Syria's commercial capital and its most populated city. According to the UN, over 200,000 civilians have fled the city, whilst many other displaced remain inside, seeking refuge in mosques, parks, and schools. Bustan al Qasr remains almost fully populated by its residents who chose not to flee.
Five members of the Qureya family are laid out on the floor of a field hospital in the neighborhood of Bustan al Qasr in Aleppo, Syria, on Monday, August 6, 2012, after an airstrike claimed at least eight lives including five children from the same family. At least two people, including a child, were trapped under rubble, complicating rescue attempts. Bustan al Qasr, a Free Syrian Army controlled district in south west Aleppo, has consistently been shelled and attacked by helicopters and planes over the last two weeks after the FSA entered Syria's commercial capital and its most populated city. According to the UN, over 200,000 civilians have fled the city, whilst many other displaced remain inside, seeking refuge in mosques, parks, and schools. Bustan al Qasr remains almost fully populated by its residents who chose not to flee.
Fighters with the Free Syrian Army ride along a main road in the town of Maarat Al Nouman in the Idlib region of Syria on Thursday, December 13, 2012. Maarat Al Nouman, a strategic town that connects the main cities of Damascus, Hama, Idlib and Aleppo, has been emptied of its 100,000 civilians leaving only the Free Syrian Army to defend the town from being taken by the Syrian government.
The mother of Alaa Milhem, 22, grieves over her dead son after he was killed by shrapnel from a mortar that was fired by Syrian Army forces in to the city of Maarat Al Noman on the night of June 9, 2012. Alaa was a student of French Literature at university and was studying for exams when the shelling started. He was killed whilst trying to help injured civilians around him.
Ahmed, 12, from Sheikh Fares neighborhood, waits with his uncle, right, near the body of his father who was killed by a shell in the Sha'ar neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, on Friday, August 24, 2012. Ahmed, who saw his father die, was also injured in his back by shrapnel.
A boy is treated by a doctor for a head wound he sustained after an airstrike hit his house in the Sha'ar neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, on Friday, August 24, 2012.
Men gather at a graveyard on the outskirts of Anadan, Syria, on Friday, June 8, 2012 to bury Fawaz Omar Abdullah, 30, a civilian who was shot and killed by a Syrian Army sniper the day before as he was walking near a checkpoint in the village.
A woman and her son grieve after seeing the body of her dead husband, killed in a shelling attack by the Syrian Army in Aleppo, Syria, on Sunday, November 4, 2012.
The body of 15-year-old Fareed lays on a gurney after he was killed by shrapnel from a shell on Sunday, August 26, 2012 in the Sha'ar neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria.
Demonstrators shout slogans as they carry the bodies of nine civilians killed the night before by mortars fired on the city of Maarat Al Noman by the Syrian Army on Sunday, June 10, 2012. Estimates put the death toll between 20-30 people as many died on their way to Turkey for further medical treatment, and over 100 people were injured.
Demonstrators shout slogans as they carry the bodies of nine civilians killed the night before by mortars fired on the city of Maarat Al Noman by the Syrian Army on Sunday, June 10, 2012. Estimates put the death toll between 20-30 people as many died on their way to Turkey for further medical treatment, and over 100 people were injured.
Men bury killed civilians and pray in the Maarat Al Noman graveyard on Sunday, June 10, 2012 after a night of intense shelling killed between 20-30 civilians and injured over 100 people.
Men bury killed civilians in the Maarat Al Noman graveyard on Sunday, June 10, 2012 after a night of intense shelling killed between 20-30 civilians and injured over 100 people.
A young man grieves over the death of his father in the Dar Shifaa hospital in Sha'ar, Aleppo, Syria, on Sunday, August 26, 2012, after he was shot and killed in the crossfire. Civilians are the subject of random, sometimes deliberate, attacks by the Syrian Army in Aleppo, often killed and injured by sniper fire, shelling, or airstrikes.
A brother and sister receive medical treatment for their injuries following an aerial bombardment on their home near the Sha'ar district of Aleppo, Syria, on August 24, 2012.
Residents wait outside a bakery in Aleppo, Syria, on Saturday, December 15, 2012. With shortages in fuel, flour, and many other basic necessities as winter sets in, civilians struggle to survive as the Syrian Army continues to shell neighborhoods despite, or because of, Free Syrian Army presence. Men, women and children are made to wait in the cold for anywhere between 8-12 hours a day for bread, prices of which have quadrupled or more in some areas.
A family takes shelter in the hallway of their apartment building in the Salaheddin neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, on Thursday, August 2, 2012 during a bout of heavy shelling that hits the area frequently from Assad army positions. Salaheddin, the most restive neighborhood that saw the biggest anti-government demonstrations throughout the revolution has been hit hard, is almost cleared of all its residents while mostly Free Syrian Army fighters remain.
Children seek shelter inside a cave in the Idlib region, Syria, on Thursday, December 13, 2012. Several dozen families fled to this area amidst Roman ruins after their town came under heavy attacks by the Syrian Army just over one month ago. The town cannot be named for fear of retribution by its residents. Syrians displaced within their own country are left to survive mostly on their own. The ruins and underground caves where these families shelter provide few comforts for the children, many of whom are sick with colds and other water-related illnesses. Without money to buy medicines, their illnesses often go untreated and are compounded by their poor living conditions. Their safety is also not guaranteed, however, as shelling from government positions often reaches these areas. Although most of the displaced have fled to Turkey and other neighboring countries, many Syrians who lack money and means of transportation opt to stay inside the country seeking shelter wherever they can find it. Without any social services or sources of finance other than their savings, they are left to eke out a living in the countryside, drinking water from the rainfall and making bread from the meager donations they receive through the Free Syrian Army and other civilians through the winter.
A Libyan fighter with the Free Syrian Army prays in an apartment in the Saif Al Dawla neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria, on August 28, 2012.
Syrian protestors light flares and sing songs during almost nightly demonstrations agains the Syrian government in the Salaheddine neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, on March 16, 2013.
A fighter with the Free Syrian Army sprints across a road to avoid getting hit by sniper fire in the Bab Al Nasr area (Old City) of Aleppo, Syria, on Sunday, November 4, 2012.
Girls gather outside a tent to wash clothes in the Atimah camp for displaced persons in Atimah, Syria, on Saturday, May 4, 2013. According to estimates, this camp located on the Turkish border has swelled to house over 35,000 Syrians who fled their homes from varying parts of the country. Many have been here for over eight months.
Men build makeshift latrines near a tent camp at the Bab Al Hawa crossing inside of Syria, where thousands fleeing the war have sought refuge, on March 11, 2013.
A child plays in a tree outside tents in the Atimah camp for displaced persons in Atimah, Syria, on Saturday, May 4, 2013. According to estimates, this camp located on the Turkish border has swelled to house over 35,000 Syrians who fled their homes from varying parts of the country. Many have been here for over eight months.