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Daily Bread

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Daily Bread

Like many young refugees, Abdallah is growing up quickly.
The 12-year-old from Syria works to put food on his family's table.
29 November 2013
Abdallah at work in Za'atari refugee camp, Jordan.

Child labour is illegal in Jordan, but that doesn't stop kids like Abdallah, a 12-year-old refugee living in Za'atari camp. "My dad used to be a farmer," he says. "We used to live well. We started this bread business because we had no other options here."


A great many refugee households in Jordan rely partly or entirely on the income generated by a child. That's because it's often harder for Syrian adults to find work, and because the ramifications for being caught are less severe for children.

Watch part 2 of the trilogy, as Abdallah introduces some of the friends he's made playing football at the camp.

Watch part 3 of the trilogy, as Abdallah and his father try to phone relatives back in Syria.