Syrian refugees in Egypt: The Assad family

Hossam Assad, a Syrian refugee, says life in Cairo has been difficult for his family: 'I am afraid for my children' [Al Jazeera]

Hossam Assad, a 42-year-old Syrian refugee, says his family lives for Fridays.
"This is his favourite time of the week, going to football training," Hossam tells Al Jazeera, gesturing to his eight-year-old son, Abdullah, as they walk through the noisy, crowded Cairo neighbourhood of al-Tawabeq. "Coming home from football training is his worst time of the week."

The rest of the time, daily life is a hard slog for the Assad family. In Homs, they shared an apartment block with 24 rooms. In Cairo, Hossam - along with his wife, her mother, three sons and two sisters-in-law - share the cramped confines of a two-bedroom flat.
The walls are scuffed and peeling, the bathroom is damp and mouldy, and there is little furniture; the family members sit on blankets on the living room floor.
Hossam is a former professional footballer who also owned a sweet shop in Syria. After the Syrian uprising began four years ago, he was arrested during a crackdown on protests in his neighbourhood, and was later beaten and burned with cigarettes.
During the 16 days he spent in prison, Hossam says he witnessed people being killed. His family, meanwhile, moved from one place to another to flee the violence, and were eventually trapped during a massive bombardment in Artouz.
"The children and I saw carnage and death," recalls Hossam's wife, Mona