Dia Hadid

Then last year, after the Assad regime fell, al-Abbasi made a remarkable claim that aired on a popular Syrian opposition television station that he was told by an anonymous friend that Rania's children were being hidden in an orphanage. Al-Abbasi says he sent friends to ask around the orphanages immediately, and he began to cast doubt on the Damascus branch of the SOS children's villages.

Al-Abbasi's claim was picked up by other Syrians on social media who began accusing the orphanages of human trafficking. As this unfolded, SOS Children's Villages issued a statement. They acknowledged that their Damascus branch had taken in security placement children over a period of four years until the charity's headquarters found out and ordered their Damascus branch to stop.

Al-Abbasi's claim was picked up by other Syrians on social media who began accusing the orphanages of human trafficking. As this unfolded, SOS Children's Villages issued a statement. They acknowledged that their Damascus branch had taken in security placement children over a period of four years until the charity's headquarters found out and ordered their Damascus branch to stop.

Al-Abbasi's claim was picked up by other Syrians on social media who began accusing the orphanages of human trafficking. As this unfolded, SOS Children's Villages issued a statement. They acknowledged that their Damascus branch had taken in security placement children over a period of four years until the charity's headquarters found out and ordered their Damascus branch to stop.

The regional director, Tom Malvert, who's a Swedish national, told me they're trying to rectify the situation now as much as they can.

The regional director, Tom Malvert, who's a Swedish national, told me they're trying to rectify the situation now as much as they can.

The regional director, Tom Malvert, who's a Swedish national, told me they're trying to rectify the situation now as much as they can.

SOS Children's Villages has trawled its records to find 139 children who'd been placed there. But they can only confirm that 21 Syrian children were reunited with their families as of this April. Malvett says he believes the staff were operating under extreme conditions. They were trying to do their best by the children who were appearing at their doorstep.

SOS Children's Villages has trawled its records to find 139 children who'd been placed there. But they can only confirm that 21 Syrian children were reunited with their families as of this April. Malvett says he believes the staff were operating under extreme conditions. They were trying to do their best by the children who were appearing at their doorstep.

SOS Children's Villages has trawled its records to find 139 children who'd been placed there. But they can only confirm that 21 Syrian children were reunited with their families as of this April. Malvett says he believes the staff were operating under extreme conditions. They were trying to do their best by the children who were appearing at their doorstep.

And after Malvett's statement, multiple orphanage directors spoke up to defend the work they continued to do in Syria. These orphanages, however imperfect, have played a vital role in Syria particularly through the civil war. They remain one of the only places that vulnerable kids can receive care. From our interviews with orphanage directors, patterns emerged as to how these placements happened.

And after Malvett's statement, multiple orphanage directors spoke up to defend the work they continued to do in Syria. These orphanages, however imperfect, have played a vital role in Syria particularly through the civil war. They remain one of the only places that vulnerable kids can receive care. From our interviews with orphanage directors, patterns emerged as to how these placements happened.

And after Malvett's statement, multiple orphanage directors spoke up to defend the work they continued to do in Syria. These orphanages, however imperfect, have played a vital role in Syria particularly through the civil war. They remain one of the only places that vulnerable kids can receive care. From our interviews with orphanage directors, patterns emerged as to how these placements happened.

Agents delivered the children in white vans to the orphanage. They came with a paper listing the child's first name and a demand to keep the child's existence totally secret. And one institution appears to have obeyed that order to the letter.

Agents delivered the children in white vans to the orphanage. They came with a paper listing the child's first name and a demand to keep the child's existence totally secret. And one institution appears to have obeyed that order to the letter.

Agents delivered the children in white vans to the orphanage. They came with a paper listing the child's first name and a demand to keep the child's existence totally secret. And one institution appears to have obeyed that order to the letter.

The Life Melody Complex, or Tajammar Lahna Al Hayat, is a gated complex. It's perched on a hill overlooking Damascus. Syrians appear angriest at this orphanage more than any other. That's because it was once sponsored by Asma al-Assad, the wife of Syria's former ruler. She used to visit the institution, cameras at the ready to show her with orphans.

The Life Melody Complex, or Tajammar Lahna Al Hayat, is a gated complex. It's perched on a hill overlooking Damascus. Syrians appear angriest at this orphanage more than any other. That's because it was once sponsored by Asma al-Assad, the wife of Syria's former ruler. She used to visit the institution, cameras at the ready to show her with orphans.

The Life Melody Complex, or Tajammar Lahna Al Hayat, is a gated complex. It's perched on a hill overlooking Damascus. Syrians appear angriest at this orphanage more than any other. That's because it was once sponsored by Asma al-Assad, the wife of Syria's former ruler. She used to visit the institution, cameras at the ready to show her with orphans.

She was photographed alongside a long-time board member, Nada al-Khabara. We met Al-Khabara on a winter's day. She walked us through the orphanage. She wanted to show us how well they care for the children. There's about 400 boys and girls here, from babies to women in their early 20s who have nowhere else to go. We met toddlers who were warmly dressed, watching cartoons.