Yarmouk, Syria, was originally a temporary refugee camp for thousands of Palestinians displaced by the 1948 Nakba; however, the camp eventually grew to a lively metropolis with a vibrant community of artists, intellectuals, and families. Home to an estimated one million residents, Palestinians and Syrians lived together in Yarmouk under the authoritarian regime of the notorious Assad family. During the protracted civil war in Syria, Yarmouk became the site of repeated bombardment by heavy artillery and intense sieges. Fleeing war, illness, and starvation, hundreds of thousands left Yarmouk; yet, a handful of residents remained, determined to fight against tyranny.

In December 2024, the Assad regime finally fell. Now, residents of war-torn Yarmouk are returning to rebuild their homes and their lives once again. For this on-the-ground documentary report, TRNN and Shadowgraph was granted access to the camp and spoke to residents about what life was like in Yarmouk during the many violent years before the fall of Assad’s regime—and about what life in Yarmouk can be now.