I entered Homs on a smugglers’ route, which I promised not to reveal, climbing over walls in the dark and slipping into muddy trenches. Arriving in the darkened city in the early hours, I was met by a welcoming party keen for foreign journalists to reveal the city’s plight to the world. So desperate were they that they bundled me into an open truck and drove at speed with the headlights on, everyone standing in the back shouting “Allahu akbar” — God is the greatest. Inevitably, the Syrian army opened fire.
This quote is taken from the final report of Marie Colvin, an American-born journalist who was killed today in Syria. Her final published piece, like most of her reporting, is a heart-wrenching glimpse into the horror of war and armed conflict. As the terrifying siege of the city of Homs continues, residents face an increasingly desperate situation as they cower in makeshift bunkers to seek safety from snipers and makeshift rocket attacks.
Marie Colvin died while trying to expose injustice and shed light on the plight of the people of Homs. She leaves behind an incredible collection of writing that gave voice to victims of violence throughout the world. Take a moment to learn more about this brave, compassionate journalist and read some of the amazing work that she left behind.
