Tahir Quliyev age 52, Takhtakorpu, Origin Vaghazin, Lachin, Job Driver, Tahir hopes his sons will one day be better off than he is. He wants them to get good professional training and reputable jobs, ideally as doctors or teachers. He would also like his children to have a place where they can spend their free time. © Philipp Rathmer

Gunel Karimova, age 9, Location Takhtakorpu, Origin Buzguney, Lachin Job School Student (Year 3) Gunel would like to become a teacher and teach other children about the history of her country, so that they will not forget how Lachin was occupied by Armenian soldiers. © Philipp Rathmer

Teymur Karimov, Age 71, Location Takhtakorpu, Origin, Vaghazin, Teymur has lived in a refugee camp for 20 years and would like very much to finally return to his home. © Philipp Rathmer

Samaya Mammadova, age 86, Location Gizilgum Senatorium, Pirshagi, Origin, Shusha City, Job Retired Teacher, Samaya left Shusha together with her family before the Armenian army moved in. Her son volunteered to serve at the front in order to defend his home, staying there even though she begged him to go with her. He was reported missing on 8 May 1992, and his fate is still not known. Her husband and daughter have also since died, leaving her alone. When she dies she hopes to meet her family again in the next life. © Philipp Rathmer

Ibrahim Qahramanov, Age 6, Location Gizilgum, Sanatorium, Pirshaghi, Origin Gizilgum Sanatorium, Pirshaghi, Job School Student (Year 1), Ibrahim was born in the Gizilqum refugee camp and is just starting school. © Philipp Rathmer

Hikmat Jabiyev, Age 60, Location Guzanli District, Origin Boyamehdili, Aghdam, Job Employee at the house of Culture, Hikmat witnessed the war from start to end. He watched as bombs fell on the villages and as the Armenians came, raped women and cut the ears off children. These are things, says Hikmat, which you cannot describe with words, only with tears. © Philipp Rathmer

Afat Karimoca, Age 8, Location, Takhtakorup, Origin Vaghazin, Lachin Job School Student (Year 2), Afat is learning English in school so that she can tell people all over the world about life in the refugee camps. © Philipp Rathmer

Kubra Orujova, Age 58, Location Takhtakorpu, Origin, Vaghazin, Lachin, Job Housewife, Widow, Kubra lost her husband, who could not bear his fate as a refugee and died in exile. She would most of all like to return to Lachin, but she would never on any account leave behind the grave of her husband. © Philipp Rathmer

Basti Guliyeva, Age 64, Location Banovshalar District, Origin, Aghdam City, Aghdam, Job Director of The Local Kindergarten, Basti has many nephews who fought in the war and returned wounded. Many of them had to have arms or legs amputated. Like everybody, she hopes one day to be able to return to her home. © Philipp Rathmer

Bahlul Javadov, Age 55, Location Takhtakorpu, Origin, Vaghazin, Lachin, Job Worker, Looking for Work, Bahlul would simply like to go back to Lachin. © Philipp Rathmer

Kirman Hasanov, Age 70, Location Darnagul, Origin Khojavand Region, Job Pensioner, Kirman has been living at Darnagul refugee camp for 20 years. © Philipp Rathmer

Javid Jabbarov, Age 8, Location District 553, Origin Sham, Lachin, Job School Student, Javid is also a big fan of football. © Philipp Rathmer

Gambar Ibrahimov, Age 80, Location Takhtakorpu, Origin Kalafaliq, Lachin, Job Retired Worker, Gambar is a proud father of eight children and has 19 grandchildren as well as four daughters-in-law. He lives in Gazma, in a dwelling built into the ground. For his grandchildren he wishes that a new school would be built nearby, or at least a new road to the current school, since there is no direct connection between the camp and the school at the moment. The children walk a good eight kilometres to school every day, and then walk back again. © Philipp Rathmer

Oruj Jabbarov, Age 50, Location Guzanli District, Origin Ahmadavar, Aghdam, Job Retired Worker, Oruj is a veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh war. He fought in many battles and is considered a national hero because he saved the lives of countless children. The big newspapers reported his heroic actions nationwide. © Philipp Rathmer