Bio
Lyse Mauvais
Lyse was born French but raised in several African countries. She studied political science and conflict between Paris and London, before moving to Jordan to study Arabic. She has been living in Amman since September 2019.
Latest Articles
The dying bees of Syria
Beekeeping is an ancient tradition in Syria, where native bees used to produce world-famous honey. But decades of intensive farming, economic hardship and environmental degradation have shattered the delicate relationships that once united bees and humans.
‘There is no future for us in Iraq either’: Statelessness plagues Syrian Kurdish refugees
Thousands of Syrian Kurds remain stateless 60 years after they were stripped of citizenship. As refugees, they face unique asylum challenges, pushing them toward dangerous, informal migration routes.
‘Crimes against nature’: Forest clearing around Afrin’s Maydanki Lake sparks anger and shock
Videos and pictures showing tree cutting in Syria’s Afrin district sparked horror and shock on social media this week. Local environmental activists accuse Turkish-backed factions of involvement in “crimes against nature.”
Unsustainable water pumping in Syria’s northwest spells trouble for coming generations
Amid a historic drought, dozens of new wells are being drilled across northwest Syria to meet a rising demand for water. But the overpumped water table is dropping, while farmers struggle with skyrocketing costs and decreasing water quality.
Disillusioned by UN inertia, Syrians raise funds for parched desert camp
In May, UNICEF abruptly reduced the water supply to Rukban camp, in Syria’s southern desert. Feeling abandoned by the international community, local groups and Syrian aid organizations are stepping in to relieve the parched camp.
Turkey’s housing projects in northwestern Syria: An expanding, contested policy
Why is Turkey interested in building housing in northern Syria? Who funds and implements these projects? And why are some human rights actors concerned about Ankara’s activities?
‘A ticking time bomb’: Hellish work at northwestern Syria’s makeshift oil refineries
In northwestern Syria, hundreds of makeshift refineries have mushroomed in the past five years, employing thousands of people.
With no regulation, their impact on health, life and the environment is catastrophic.
How Syria’s makeshift refineries poison people—and the land that sustains them (Photos)
Makeshift oil refineries endanger the health of workers and local communities in northwestern Syria. But their environmental impact, often overlooked, will also affect generations to come.
‘Worse than being on the frontline’: A day at Syria’s makeshift oil refineries (Photos)
Two workers at a makeshift oil refinery in Tarhin speak about their job, the hardships they endure and the dreams they hold for the future.
Women in northwestern Syria pay the price of donor fatigue
Eleven years on, funding for Syria is stagnating while needs grow. Women are among those most affected by funding gaps in the health sector.