Newroz Rasho, 2024 winner
From inside a dusty tent near Afrin, Syria, VOA contributor Newroz Rasho has been documenting a story few others are telling – of the daily lives of those in northern Syria living in camps for internally displaced people. Newroz was forced to move to the Shahba Camps with thousands of others after Turkish troops took over the region in 2018. And, her family’s struggles were magnified when her father was killed during the military bombardment. The death of her father and her forced relocation marked a shift in Newroz’s approach to reporting, and her dedication to providing reliable and accurate news reached new levels.
Her working conditions are challenging, to say the least; she files stories for VOA’s Kurdish Service between the intermittent electrical outages in the camp. And with food and water in short supply, she must often balance work and survival. But thanks to her intrepid reporting, VOA’s Kurdish Service has provided its audiences with critical coverage from the region, exposing the realities of life in the camps, including everything from preparing for winter to exposing human rights violations.
While most international news organizations have stopped their coverage of the aftermath of the Syrian conflict, Newroz’s reporting brings the narratives of those affected by war to light. As she navigates the challenges of life in the Shahba camp, her reporting serves as a bridge between the displaced community and the rest of the world. Her unique perspective, both as an observer and a participant adds a layer of authenticity to her reporting that resonates with audiences.