Syrian journalist reveals heart-wrenching tales from Syrians living in war, trapped between President Assad and ISIS

Syrian journalist Samar Yazbek is the only Syrian writer who returns to the war land for interviews.

In her new book, Syrian journalist Samar Yazbek unveils the dark, unimaginable reality of life in war-torn Syria through first-hand interviews with the oppressed and broken refugees who continue to live and survive in the chaos.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Samar revealed how people are caught between the terror of ISIS and the brutal administration of president Bashar. The families she was able to meet have carved out a life among the wreckage. They live in constant fear of relentless beheadings and bomb strikes.

In 2011, the journalist fled the country after condemning Assad. However, she has been back three times to collect stories from people directly suffering on the front line of war.

"The people here live side by side with death," she wrote. "This was no metaphor, but reality. They didn't think about any big issues, they weren't interested in understanding the military situation or the political context; they had no space to think. All they could do is struggle to survive."

People are always looking out for strikes of cluster bombs or barrel bombs from the President's forces.

"You must hold yourself together and stand strong when confronted by mutilated human body parts and the colossal destruction of homes. You simply have to walk up to tiny fingers and gather them up from under the rubble. Just pull out the body of another child, her clothes still warm from her urine. And then move on to the next site and carry on searching for more victims," Samar continued.

Samar now lives in exile in Paris with her daughter. When asked why she felt the need to return, she stated, "I am a writer, and the role of a writer in society is to bring a voice to the people with none. I wanted to give the world an idea of what is really happening."

Samar is the only Syrian writer who has traveled extensively through "Liberated Syria," the region which has fallen to the control of ISIS.

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