State of the World from NPR Looking Back: The Refugees Trapped in a Corner of Syria, Now Free
Dec 24, 2025
Jane Araf, a journalist based in Amman, shares her firsthand experiences reporting from the Rukban refugee camp in southern Syria. She discusses the dire straits of approximately 7,000 trapped individuals fleeing both ISIS and Assad's regime. Araf highlights the harsh realities of life inside the camp, including lack of medical care and essentials. She recounts poignant moments of families returning home, filled with hope yet uncertainty, and reflects on the challenges faced by children reintegrating into normal life after years of confinement.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
First Journalist Into Rukban
- Jane Araf was the first journalist to visit the Rukban camp after years of isolation.
- She described a community of 7,000 living in mud‑brick homes with no doctors, water scarcity, and children born and dying there.
Border Proximity Didn't Mean Safety
- The camp was hemmed in by Assad forces, Russia, and closed borders, leaving residents with nowhere to go.
- Proximity to multiple borders did not translate into access or safety for displaced Syrians.
Activist-Led Aid And Local Services
- Moaz Mustafa convinced the U.S. military to bring medical supplies and doctors to Rukban when aircraft had space.
- His group funded a pharmacy, opened a school, took a census, and even held elections inside the camp.