Story highlights Ali Arkady photographed a group of orphans living at a safe house in Baghdad, Iraq

The children are kept busy, but there is still sadness and loneliness, Arkady said

(CNN) Photographer Ali Arkady started his dangerous journey to Baghdad, Iraq, in July.

He had one goal: spend close to a year with a group of Iraq's orphans, a story he wanted the world to hear about.

Thousands of children have lost their parents in Iraq's recent bloody past, but many of them are cared for by extended family.

These children are the forgotten ones, with no family to take them in.

Arkady packed his gear and spent nine months with 33 children at a safe house for some of Iraq's most neglected.

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