What would you grab, if you were ever forced to flee your house and home?

NYC-based photographer Brian Sokol's project titled “The Most Important Thing,” is supported by the U N Refugee Agency.

man, Nizip refugee camp, Turkey

The most important thing Iman was able to bring with her is the Koran she holds in this photograph. She says that religion is the most important aspect of her life, and that the Koran inspires a sense of protection. "As long as I have it with me, I'm connected to God," she says.

UNHCR/B. Sokol.

May, Domiz refugee camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

The most important thing she was able to bring with her when she left home is the set of bracelets she wears in this photograph. "The bracelets aren't my favourite things," she says; "my doll Nancy is." May's aunt gave her the doll on her sixth birthday. "She reminded me of that day, the cake I had, and how safe I felt then when my whole family was together."

UNHCR/B. Sokol.

Ahmed, Domiz refugee camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

The most important thing Ahmed was able to bring with him is the cane he holds in this photograph. Without it, he says, he would not have made the two-hour crossing on foot to the Iraqi border. "The only other thing I have left is this finger," he said. "All I want now is for my family to find a place where they can be safe and stay there forever. Never should we need to flee again."

Leila, in Erbil, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

The most important thing Leila was able to bring with her are the jeans she holds in this photograph. "I went shopping with my parents one day and looked for hours without finding anything I liked. But when I saw these, I knew instantly that these were perfect because they have a flower on them, and I love flowers." She has only worn the jeans three times, all in Syria – twice to wedding parties, and once when she went to visit her grandfather. She says she won't wear them again until she attends another wedding, and she hopes it, too, will be in Syria.

UNHCR/B. Sokol.

Yusuf, in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon

The most important thing Yusuf was able to bring when he fled Syria is the mobile phone he holds in this photograph. "With this, I'm able to call my father. We're close enough to Syria here that I can catch a signal from the Syrian towers sometimes, and then it is a local call to call home from Lebanon." The phone also holds photographs of family members who are still in Syria, which he is able to keep with him at all times.

UNHCR/B. Sokol.

Ayman, and his wife Yasmine, Nizip refugee camp, Turkey

The most important thing Ayman was able to bring with him from Syria is his wife. "She's the best woman that I've met in my life," he says. "Even if I were to go back 55 years, I would choose you again."

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Tamara, Adiyaman refugee camp in Turkey

The most important thing she was able to bring with her is her diploma, which she holds in this photograph. With it she will be able to continue her education in Turkey. Through a generous education program, the government will allow qualified Syrian refugees to attend Turkish universities beginning in the March semester. Ramazan Kurkud, head of education programs at Adiyaman, said 70 B.A candidates and 10 M.A candidates from the camp have so far submitted applications to study at Turkish universities.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Salma, whose age is somewhere between 90 and 107 according to family members, poses for a portrait in Domiz refugee camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

The most important thing that she was able to bring with her is the ring she displays in this photograph. When she was ten years old, her mother gave it to her from her death bed, saying, "Keep this ring and remember me." She intends to wear the ring to her grave. "It's not valuable – not silver, or gold – just an old ring. But it's all that I have left."

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Magboola, on the South Sudanese border.

The most important thing she was able to bring with her is the cooking pot she holds in this photograph. It was small enough she could travel with it, yet big enough to cook sorghum for herself and her three daughters during their journey. Jamam refugee camp, Maban County, South Sudan.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Al Haj, in South Sudan

The most important thing he was able to bring with him is the whip that he holds. Without it, he says, he wouldn't have been able to keep together his herd of 50 goats, and he would now be destitute. Jamam camp, Maban County, South Sudan.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Shari, who is 75 years old and blind, and her son, Osman, Jamam refugee camp, Maban County, South Sudan.

he most important thing that Shari was able to bring with her is the stick she holds. "I've had this stick since I went blind six years ago,â she said. âMy son led me along the road with it. Without it, and him, I would be dead now."

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Dowla, and her six children, Doro refugee camp, Maban County, South Sudan.

The most important object she was able to bring with her is the wooden pole balanced over her shoulder, with which she carried her six children during the 10-day journey from Gabanit to South Sudan. At times, the children were too tired to walk, forcing her to carry two on either side.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Ahmed, Jamam refugee camp, Maban County, South Sudan.

The most important thing he was able to bring with him is Kako, his pet monkey. Kako and Ahmed made the five-day journey from Taga to the South Sudanese border together in the back of a truck. Ahmed says he can't imagine life without Kako, and that the most difficult thing about leaving Blue Nile was having to leave his family's donkey behind.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Hasan, who is unsure of his age but imagines himself to be between 60 and 70 years old, Jamam refugee camp in Maban County, South Sudan

The most important object he was able to bring with him is the empty wallet he holds. Though he is now destitute, he left Maganza with enough money to buy food for his family during their 25-day journey to the South Sudanese border.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Howard, Yusuf Batil refugee camp, Maban County, South Sudan.

The most important object he was able to bring with him is the long knife he holds, called a shefe, which he used to defend his family and his herd of 20 cattle during their 20-day journey from Bau County to the South Sudanese border.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Maria, Jamam camp in Maban County, South Sudan.

The most important thing she brought with her is the jerrycan (water container) that she holds in this photograph taken at Jamam camp in Maban County, South Sudan.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Omar Belu Garmut, on the South Sudanese border.

The most important thing Omar was able to bring with him is the axe he holds in this photograph. He used it to cut firewood for cooking and to make small wooden structures where his family could sleep at night, and sometimes to rest for several days at a time, during their journey.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Similar to "Toy Stories" by Gabriel Galimberti that we featured last week, Sokol's photos aren't just of refugees, but of people. Unmistakably human.

Follow Sokol's project on its Flickr page, visit his website or follow him on his instagram.