The most important thing

Photojournalist Brian Sokol created this project called "The Most Important" while working for the United Nations Commission on Refugees. In the project, the selected refugees posed with one, the most important thing for them. Since November 2011, more than 105,000 refugees have crossed the border between Blue Nile State in Sudan and Upper Nile State in South Sudan. Thousands of refugees are forced to leave their homes, often within minutes, and travel on foot through dangerous lands, traveling for weeks, often without food, water or medical care. Brian Sokol asked the refugees what one thing is most important to them right now. I must say that for everyone these things are completely different: for some, the most important thing is their children, and for someone - a pot or a container for water.

(Total 11 photos)

1. The most important thing for 10 year old Maria is her water container. South Sudan.

2. The most important thing for Omar (who, by the way, is not sure how old he is, but believes somewhere between 60-70) is an ax with which he once chopped brushwood and made small huts so that his family could have some shelter.

3. The most important thing for the 20-year-old Magbula is her cooking pot. It was small enough to take with you, but also big enough to cook sorghum for yourself and your three daughters.

4. The most important thing for 27-year-old Al Khai is this whip. He says that without him he would not have been able to keep his herd of 50 goats and would have lost his job.

5. For 75-year-old Shari, the most important thing is this stick. “I have found this stick since I went blind six years ago,” she says. – My son Osman (40 years old) led me along the road with the help of this stick. Without her and without him, I would have died already.”

6. The most important thing for the 22-year-old Doula is this unusual "yoke" with which she carried her children during the 10-day trip from Gabanit to South Sudan. Sometimes the children were very tired and could not walk, so she had to carry them.

7. The most important "thing" for 10-year-old Ahmed is Kako - his monkey. Kako and Ahmed traveled five days from Tagi to South Sudan. Ahmed cannot imagine life without Kako. The worst thing for him while crossing the border was to come to terms with the fact that they left their beloved donkey at home.

8. The most important thing for Hasan is this empty wallet. The wallet is empty after Hasan spent all the money to buy food for his family during a 25-day trip to the South Sudanese border.

9. The most important thing for 21-year-old Howard is this long knife - chef - with which he protected his wife and six children, as well as a herd of 20 cows during their 20-day journey to the border with South Sudan.

10. For 55-year-old Haya, the most important thing is this patterned cape, with which she can wear her granddaughter.

11. The most important thing for Toryama are these plastic bottles. In one he carries water, in the other - vegetable oil. “All I could take with me was bottles and an axe. We even had to leave elderly acquaintances at home.”

And what is the most important thing for you?