Invisible Iraqi Refugees in Exile

Silent and largely unseen, Iraqi refugees live in the suburbs of Damascus and Amman, their numbers uncertain and often disputed. Many arrived in Syria and Jordan following the sectarian violence that erupted after Saddam Hussein’s fall. Now, they hide in apartments, keeping a low profile. Men rarely venture outside, fearing harassment or detention. With no legal status and limited rights to work, many survive on informal jobs in the black market or rely on humanitarian aid.

Life in exile carries the weight of trauma. The memories of violence, loss, and displacement linger, compounded by the uncertainty of their future. Depression, domestic tensions, and fear are common, as refugees navigate the challenges of living among hosts who themselves face social and economic pressures.

These images seek to capture both the invisibility and the resilience of Iraqi refugees — the quiet endurance of people whose lives have been uprooted, yet who continue to survive amid hardship, isolation, and constrained freedom.