U.S., Russia Said to Near Compromise to Unlock Syria Peace Talks

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2. Humans of Syria: Inspiring tales of ordinary lives

On 12 January, Dr Refaai Hamo, a 55-year-old refugee also affectionately known on social media as “The Scientist,” was invited to attend Barack Obama’s final State of The Union before a joint session of Congress.

It was a dramatic change of fortune for Hamo. Just a month before sitting with the First Lady, the doctor was part of the unnamed mass, those millions of anonymous Syrians whose lives collapsed as the fate of their country was sealed in blood and dust.

It all began when Brandon Stanton, the photographer behind the world-famous “Humans of New York” website and Facebook page, shared Hamo’s story with his 16 million online fans.

Dr Hamo fled Syria after a bomb tore through his home, killing seven family members, including his wife and one daughter. “My son had to carry the pieces of his mother and sister out of the house. He was 14 at the time. He was so smart. He was the top of his class. He's not the same,” the doctor told Stanton.

http://www.middleeasteye.net/in-depth/features/putting-human-face-war-syria-one-picture-time-683088158