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SYRIA: A CONFLICT EXPLORED<br />
The Imperial <strong>War</strong> Museums (IWM) were<br />
established in 1917 to reflect and<br />
record WWI, which at that time was an<br />
ongoing conflict. 100 years later IWM<br />
is marking its centenary by exploring<br />
evolving global issues, particularly the devastating<br />
conflict in Syria, as part <strong>of</strong> its Conflict Now strand <strong>of</strong><br />
exhibitions and events.<br />
Conflict Now features the opinions <strong>of</strong> individuals<br />
who have seen, experienced and worked in areas<br />
<strong>of</strong> conflict, which include artists, photographers,<br />
refugees, war correspondents and citizen<br />
journalists. Running from 27 April-3 September<br />
<strong>2017</strong> at IWM London, Syria: A Conflict Explored<br />
will feature two exhibitions called Syria: Story Of A<br />
Conflict and Sergey Ponomarev: A Lens On Syria.<br />
The Syrian Civil <strong>War</strong>, which began in 2011 has<br />
now lasted longer than WWII, killed almost half a<br />
million people and forced nearly 11 million – half<br />
the pre-war population – to flee their homes. This<br />
is not just a domestic tragedy but also a severe<br />
global problem. Syria has been turned into a<br />
battleground for wider rivalries such as non-state<br />
militants like ISIS or great powers fighting for<br />
geopolitical supremacy like Russia and the US.<br />
The war has also created a refugee crisis that has<br />
enveloped neighbouring countries and Europe.<br />
Gill Webber, executive director <strong>of</strong> content<br />
and programmes, IWM explains the purpose<br />
<strong>of</strong> the exhibitions. “The situation in Syria is<br />
complex, live and evolving and we know that<br />
Above: Located in Lambeth, south London, the Imperial<br />
<strong>War</strong> Museum aims “to provide for, and encourage, the<br />
study and understanding <strong>of</strong> the history <strong>of</strong> modern war and<br />
‘wartime experience’”.<br />
viewpoints may change in two years, two months,<br />
two days or two hours. We want to help our<br />
visitors cut through the complexity and enable<br />
a deeper understanding <strong>of</strong> the causes, course<br />
and consequences <strong>of</strong> what is happening in<br />
Syria today. Syria: A Conflict Explored reflects a<br />
multitude <strong>of</strong> perspectives and positions and also<br />
questions and challenges the information we<br />
have available right here and right now.”<br />
Abu Husham Karim (right), a 70-year-old mechanic, and his family use a local taxi to<br />
salvage possessions from their ruined apartment in the Khalidiya district <strong>of</strong> Homs, 15<br />
June 2014. Khalidiya, an Opposition stronghold in the north <strong>of</strong> the city, was besieged<br />
and heavily shelled for two years by Government forces<br />
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