In a deeply divided world, any ideas to reunite us are worth a crack. And few things are as unifying as fresh homemade hummus. That middle-eastern dish is among the arsenal of crowdfunded restaurant Syr, which is staffed mainly by Syrian refugees in the Dutch city of Utrecht. Entirely self-funded, the masterminds behind the project believe that Syr appeals to those on the left desperate to accept and help refugees, and those on the right who are suspicious of multiculturalism

Many recently arrived Syrian refugees are relying on food banks to feed their families, forcing some locations to stock specific Middle Eastern food, enlist the help of translators and extend their operating hours. Some food banks have seen hundreds of Syrians walk through their doors, while others are anticipating more of a rush when financial support for the newcomers runs out. A lot of them appear to be government-assisted refugees, who live off a one-time startup sum and