NEW: My report on challenges to #aid throughout #Syria is out. It's based on a year of research, including interviews w/ 130 #UN officials, aid workers, diplomats, analysts, & a review of open-source docs, internal reports, evaluations csis.org/analysis/rescu… To sum up🧵...

"Countries that have for years resisted taking in refugees from wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are now opening their doors to Ukrainians as Russian forces carry out a nationwide military assault." nytimes.com/2022/02/26/us/…

In Ottoman Damascus, ornate tile panels were common decorations, set into the walls of mosques, shrines and other buildings. Many were taken & are now in museums.   A thread on beautiful 17th century fritware tile panels from Damascus, Syria, found in museums across the world...

"Denmark is sending some Syrian refugees to deportation and asylum centers after revoking their residency permits, where they face indefinite detention and a constant threat of expulsion from the country." writes Elian Peltier from two centers. nytimes.com/2022/03/07/wor…

On the grim shadow of Syria's war over Ukraine, with potential lessons to Putin: _ "red lines" might not be so red _ diplomacy can be used as a distraction _ autocrats can do terrible things and stay in power w/hwaida saad Asmaa al-Omar cora engelbrecht nytimes.com/2022/03/15/wor…

A grim aftereffect of years of war in Syria: many men are now taking jobs as mercenaries. Hundreds are headed to fight for Russia in Ukraine. If they die, their families will get just $10,000 for life. nyti.ms/3tW7EAH Ben Hubbard hwaida saad Asmaa al-Omar

NEW: A contingent of at least 300 Syrian fighters have traveled to Russia en route to Ukraine. Across the country, thousands more have signed up to go, hoping to earn more as mercenaries abroad than they ever could at home. W/hwaida saad Asmaa al-Omar nytimes.com/2022/03/31/wor…

Good morning to you, BBC Earth "How Did Dinosaurs Have Sex?" youtube.com/watch?v=ElFyDj…

Lebanon heads to the polls today, the public’s first opportunity to formally respond to their leaders’ performance since the country’s collapse. But the barriers to real change are substantial. hwaida saad Asmaa al-Omar nytimes.com/2022/05/15/wor…

All abroad! Built 114 years ago by the Ottomans. Lawrence of Arabia blew it up. Lebanese crooner Fadel Shaker suffered on it tracks. But the Hejaz Railway (at least a part of it) still runs in Jordan. We rode it and made this. Asmaa al-Omar @LauraBoushnak nytimes.com/2022/06/11/wor…

In a report from New Lines Magazine, senior Syrian Arab Red Crescent staff told Nidal Betare and Sasha Ghosh-Siminoff🟣 that over 80% of UN-facilitated cash-based assistance in the country is siphoned off. In 2021 alone, $116 USD was spent on cash and voucher-based programs. reliefweb.int/report/syrian-…

Today's Daily: How Biden went from wanting to distance himself from MBS to meeting with him last weekend. Ben Hubbard on the Crown Prince's backstory and rise to power. nytimes.com/2022/07/18/pod…

The first grain-filled ship has left Ukraine. It’s going to take a lot more to stave off hunger and famine. With reporting by Lynsey Chutel Christina Goldbaum @oscarlopezNYT @jodyreporta Ruth Maclean Asmaa al-Omar & others nytimes.com/2022/08/01/wor…

“He wasn’t just killed by a weapon.” As Turkey’s landmark election approaches, the fate of 3.6m Syrian refugees is on the ballot. Here is the story of one man who tried his best to build a life, despite the dangers. washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/… with great team Asmaa al-Omar Alice Martins.

“Suwayda hasn’t witnessed a civil strike and movement like this before. People don’t want reforms. This regime is not able to provide people with any of their needs,” said Rayan Marouf, the exiled head of السويداء 24. My piece w Asmaa Al Omar theguardian.com/world/2023/aug…

As Turkey toughens its stance on refugees, Syrians in Istanbul's Esenyurt district face misinformation, ID checks and the threat of deportation. Here's my doc for BBC World Service Depictar Productions, w/ Asmaa al-Omar Edmée van Rijn durrie bouscaren + Matt Wareham bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0…

As Syrians in #Idlib still recover from the devastating February 2023 earthquakes, the #Assad regime has stepped up a deadly bombing campaign across the north-west Ruth Michaelson & Asmaa al-Omar buff.ly/3ul2G3q

🚨New podcast: Covering Syria and Russia from exile Two of our inspiring Journalist Fellows Maria Kiseleva and Asmaa al-Omar discuss the challenges of building trust, maintaining sources' anonymity, and the emotional toll of their work. #WorldPressFreedomDay reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/our-podca…

.Guillermo Fariñas I am writing an essay on the return of exiled Syrian journalists back to their home for the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journaism, and I would love to interview you on your own experience with journalism and return. Let me know if you are open for that.