One year after the fall of the Assad regime, more than three million refugees and internally displaced Syrians have returned home to face the legacy of explosive remnants of war. Their homes, agricultural land and public buildings are contaminated with weapons, unexploded ordnance and discarded munitions. Deir ez-Zor in north-east Syria is one of the worst affected areas, where organisations continue to clear unexploded ordnance and provide help to victims. Children are often injured, losing limbs when they mistake explosives for toys. More than one in three people in the region is disabled.
Tom Nicholson is a British freelance photojournalist based in Paris, photographing news, commercial and feature assignments for editorial clients, NGOs and private organisations. He has covered a wide range of subjects internationally, including natural disasters, social unrest, migration, the effects of conflict, politics, the Olympic Games and royals.
