Mohammed al-Hamo, an 18-year-old student, never expected to use his newfound barbering skills in a tent camp for Turkey-Syria earthquake survivors. After the devastating February 6 earthquakes that destroyed much of southeastern Turkey and northern Syria, Hamo has been offering open-air haircuts to his family and other displaced people. He was able to recover his equipment, including electric clippers, combs, scissors, and shampoo, from the wreckage of his destroyed home.
Hamo’s father, Khaled, is proud of his son’s willingness to help others. Beyond free haircuts, Hamo and his 19-year-old brother Sobhi have been volunteering to clean the camp and work with an aid agency. Khaled believes that their moral code compels them to help those in need.
Millions of people have been left homeless by the earthquake, with limited access to sanitation, electricity, and healthcare. Hamo has been using his skills to help his family and others in the camp in Antakya. He began by giving his brother a fade and then moved on to his father, threading his eyebrows and tidying up his hair.
Hamo learned to cut hair while working in a barber shop to help support his family. He prefers using scissors rather than electric shavers as it shows how skilled a hairdresser is. The family moved to Antakya from Aleppo in 2014 due to the civil war in Syria. Now, Hamo is preparing to go to university in Ankara as many universities in the earthquake-affected region have been damaged.
Despite the tragedy of the earthquake and the displacement it caused, Hamo and his family are staying positive. Khaled said, “Even in these difficult conditions, we keep moving.” Hamo is using his barbering skills to help others and make a difference in the camp. His story is a testament to the resilience of those affected by natural disasters and the power of community support.