In one minute, a family can be forced to leave their home and give up everything.
Imagine your family had to flee... and you could only take ONE thing...
What would it be? An item essential to your survival? A sentimental object? A beloved peT?
The UN Refugee Agency has asked refugees all around Central Europe what is the most important thing they brought with themselves. Here are their stories.
One Thing

1
Losing their home and one-year-old daughter in Syria’s war, Somarst and Nur wanted to save their two remaining sons and fled Damascus to find refuge in Pastrogor, Bulgaria. The most important thing they brought with them is a framed family portrait. The photo reminds Somarst that his hair has gone grey in just a few months; he adds that his family is trying to find again the happiness that they lost.

2
Magbola Alhadi, 20, and her three children pose for a portrait in Jamam refugee camp in Maban County, South Sudan on August 11th, 2012. Magboola and her family weathered aerial bombing raids for several months, but decided it was time to leave their village of Bofe the night that soldiers arrived and opened fire. With her three children, she travelled for 12 days from Bofe to the town of El Fudj, on the South Sudanese border. The most important thing that Magboola was able to bring with her is the saucepan she holds in this photograph. It wasn't the largest pot that she had in Bofe, but it was small enough she could travel with it, yet big enough to cook sorghum for herself and her three daughters (from left: Aduna Omar, 6, Halima Omar, 4, and Arfa Omar, 2) during their journey.

3
Wais was 15 when he had to flee Afghanistan because of growing feuds between local warlords in his home province Parwan. Now he lives in Warsaw. "My mother gave me a ring and some family pictures. They are my most precious souvenirs from home," the young refugee says.

4
Lina fled Gaza in 2010 traveling through Egypt, Lybia and Jordan before reaching Romania. The most important thing the single Palestinian mother brought with her were letters and drawings from her four children - Alia, Lana, Adam and Ragheb - whom she had to leave in Jordan for nine months until she got refugee status in Romania and they could reunite.