When Rami Adham embarked on his first aid delivery to Aleppo, he crossed the border into Syria laden with food and medicine – plus 25 teddy bears and 36 Barbie dolls.

The Finnish-Syrian aid worker had not planned to take the toys. But his three-year-old daughter, Yasmin, insisted that he donate her own toys to Syrian children, provided that she received a new Barbie on his return.

Mr Adham made this promise and set off, starting a tradition that has earned him the nickname of the “toy smuggler” of Syria. In the last four years, he has delivered thousands of dolls, teddies and puppets.

“That first time, we went to a refugee camp near the border. We’d brought food, but when we started giving away the toys, it created a huge fuss. Kids were coming from all over. I realised they weren’t thinking about food - they just wanted a toy,” said Mr Adham, 43.