Refugees face cold winter

Some 400,000+ people have fled the conflict in Syria, which has now been dragging on for nearly two years. Many of those that left with nothing but what they could carry live in extremely basic conditions – tents made of scavenged billboard hoardings, old schools, farm outhouses and part-constructed buildings. Now they face the prospect of a harsh winter with little protection from the cold. These images are all from a three day trip in the north of Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley with Save The Children in order to tug some heart/purse strings before the worst of the season sets in.

Of ministers and men, machines and magazines

 

A bit of an odd- ball collection but it's been a busy few days. First up is Lebanon's Finance Minister Raya Hassan, followed by welding in the Bekaa Vaalley, cardboard recycling and, finally, Samia el Solh, editor of the newly formed women's 'business and empowerment' magazine, Push, the first ever issue of which came off the press yesterday.

Touffar for Esquire gulf

This would have been my first magazine appearance but they put it back a month till March so Executive, which prints next week, pips them to it. Touffar are heavily politicised rappers from the Bekaa valley area of Lebanon. I couldn't understand a word of the concert but it was apparent they were pretty pissed. The unsubbed version of US freelancer and all round nice guy Josh Wood's story, as it will appear in next month's edition of Esquire gulf, is below. Cheers to Touffar for letting me blind them with flashes for the entire concert.