Suffering on two fronts in Qabaait, Lebanon: Part 1

Islam is central to the lives of the residents of Qabaait. Khoder Osman, who is never without his prayer beads, lost his son and daughter when the asylum-seeker boat they hoped would take them to Australia, sank.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

Dusk descends on the remote town of Qabaait. Despite majestic views of the valley below, the region is beset by sectarian violence. Many residents feel trapped: the Syrian border and its civil war is just an hour's drive away; even closer in the opposite direction lies the Lebanese city of Tripoli, where the religious tensions engulfing Syria are spilling over.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

On clear days, explosions from artillery in the Syrian city of Homs can be seen from the roads around Qabaait, where women and children scour for salvageable trash to sell.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

A Syrian family prepares dinner in their basic house in Qabaait, where they've lived for the past two years since fleeing fighting in their war-torn country.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

A duck takes to the muddy street on a cold, wet day in Qabaait.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

Khoder Osman walks to visit his grandson and granddaughter, who lost their father in September 2013 when a boat carrying them to Australia sank en route.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

Khoder Osman sits at home in Qabaait with his grandson Khalid, who lost his father when the boat carrying him to Christmas Island in Australia, sank off Java.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

The parents of Mohamad Jdid in their home in Qabaait. Their son died on the fateful boat journey from Indonesia to Australia in September 2013.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

In Khoder Jdid's home, a photograph of his son, Mohammad, hangs on the wall. Mohammad was among 18 asylum seekers from Qabaait who drowned when the boat they were on sank while attempting to reach Australia.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

The mother of Mohamad Jdid prepares food for her family in what doubles as the kitchen and bedroom. Her son was one of 18 residents of Qabaait who drowned while trying to seek asylum in Australia.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

Women prepare bread with za'atar in an early morning baking session. It is often the only food Qabaait residents eat in any given day.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

The highway between Qabaait and Tripoli, a city which has been gripped by violence linked to religious tensions over the war in Syria.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

Khodr Darwish visits the grave of his wife, who he married just days before she drowned when the boat she had paid to take her to Australia sank off the coast of Indonesia.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

Khoder Darwish (right) lost his new wife when her boat bound for Australia sank.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

Rabiaa Ali Hussein is married to Hamze Darwish. They both grew up in Qabaait. Darwish emigrated to Australia and lives in Melbourne, while Hussein stayed behind in Lebanon. Her family leases a house they own to a family of Syrian refugees. Ahmad Kadour (right) is the father of the family.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

A thunderstorm rips through Qabaait, bringing heavy rain. The town is frequently beset by storms and many residents live in homes that provide insufficient shelter from the elements.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

A Syrian man who lives in the lower level of the Qabaait mayor's house together with other Syrian refugees.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian

Twins Mohamad and Nour with their parents Maryam and Ahmad Kadour. A year ago the family fled to Qabaait from war-torn Homs, not far across the Syrian border.
Photograph: Andrew Quilty/Oculi/Guardian