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Abby Sewell

Abby Sewell is a journalist based in Beirut, where she covers refugee and social issues, travel, politics and culture for The Daily Star newspaper and as a freelancer for a number of international publications. Previously, she was a metro reporter with the Los Angeles Times, where she was part of the team that covered municipal corruption in the cities of southeast Los Angeles County, leading to the Times' Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2011.

A birds-eye-view of protests in Lebanon.

How Lebanon's 'WhatsApp tax' unleashed a flood of anger

Frustration had already been building for years in Lebanon over widespread corruption, gridlock in government, and the country’s failing infrastructure. The “WhatsApp tax” was simply the last straw.

How Lebanon's 'WhatsApp tax' unleashed a flood of anger
A family portrait with several younger children in the front row and adults in the back row.

Torn apart by the Syrian war, these siblings struggle to stay connected across 6 different countries

Migration
Torn apart by the Syrian war, these siblings struggle to stay connected across 6 different countries
A boy in a blur running.

From Syrian refugee to Oscar nominee, ‘Capernaum’ star gets second chance at childhood in Norway

Arts, Culture & Media
From Syrian refugee to Oscar nominee, ‘Capernaum’ star gets second chance at childhood in Norway