The cease-fire negotiated between Russia and the United States was supposed to allow for delivery of aid to the divided city of Aleppo. Everything is needed: food, medicine, blankets. But United Nations officials said they had not received a guarantee of safe passage, and truckloads of goods remained at the border with Turkey.

Diplomacy is driven by those in power — who live and work safely outside the war-torn country. But it is the people of Syria who have the most at stake, and so we wanted to hear from them. For many, the pause in the fighting was a chance to experience the routines of life that many take for granted: Taking a photograph of a friend, shopping for food.

“I think both sides, the opposition and regime, are tired of this war and want to have a break,” said Abu Yaman, a father of four in Damascus.

Read more accounts below, and see more about the terms of the deal here.