Essam Sabry Hafez

Essam Sabry Hafez is a journalist specializing on Syria who works for several international and Arab news organizations.

Syria | Sep 24, 2022

Syrian women still get cosmetic surgery despite war

Despite the collapse of the health sector and the deterioration of living conditions in Syria, more women are getting plastic surgery than ever.

Women buy cosmetics in Syria's northeastern city of Hasakeh on June 12, 2018.

Syria | Sep 8, 2022

Narcotic sales on rise in Syria

Syrians are trying to escape deteriorating economic conditions and security pressures from government forces in the regime-controlled areas by resorting to tranquilizers and sedatives.

People shop at a pharmacy on February 16, 2019, in Hajin, Syria.

Syria | Apr 18, 2022

Journalists flee northwest Syria as intimidation ramps up

Dozens of journalists have fled northwest Syria, some paying fortunes to reach Europe, to escape the Syrian opposition factions and Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham.

Syria | Mar 14, 2022

Islamic State mines kill truffle hunters in Syrian desert

The country's economic collapse and widespread poverty have driven residents to risk their lives to make a living in the desert near Deir ez-Zor.

Syria | Feb 23, 2022

Yazidis react to killing of Islamic State leader

The death of Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, who committed war crimes against the Yazidi community in Sinjar and supervised the Sinjar genocide in which thousands of Yazidis were killed, sparked varied reactions among Yazidis.

A picture shows a snow-covered displacement camp for Yazidis in the area of Dawudya, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Dahuk, Iraqi Kurdistan, Jan. 25, 2022.

Syria | Feb 15, 2022

How diamonds became Syrians' best friends

Syrians have been buying diamonds instead as the global prices of gold continue to increase.

Syria | Jan 6, 2022

Ancient Kurdish rain ritual revived in Syria as drought continues

Kurdish farmers in the countryside of Qamishli revive an ancient ritual called Ziwa, or the Bride of the Rain, to invoke rain after seasons of drought.