Photo essays
Send in the Clowns
Al-Hawl camp in northeastern Syria is home to 31,000 children, most of whom have — or had — parents who fought with the Islamic State group. A visit by a clown troupe offered a moment of color, but also raised the question of what future the world envisions for these young people.
Twilight of a Matriarchy
The village of Olympos on the Aegean island of Karpathos is one of the last matriarchal societies in Europe. Yet after hundreds of years of relative isolation that preserved many Byzantine-era traditions, this way of life is now fast disappearing, thanks to underdevelopment, dwindling resources and mass emigration.
An Afghan Photographer’s Portrait of Her Mother
When Laila Hazara left Afghanistan after the Taliban came to power in 2021, she had just contracted COVID-19 and had to fly without the oxygen tank she needed. Her daughter documents the life she left behind, and the one she has made with her family in Virginia.
Namibians Are Choosing Between Parched Farmland and Slums
Rural Namibia is home to over 1 million citizens, though that number is declining, and the changing climate is forcing many who stay to adapt. The city, the slums and the economic opportunities they offer are not just tempting, but inevitable.
Sixty Years After Independence, a Kenyan Tribe Calls for Justice
When word spread that a journalist was here to document stories of colonial injustices, many victims arrived. “The lands are here with us. We are following the law to try and get them back. But if the British do not listen to us, we will have no choice but to pass the torch to the youths,” the elders said.
Syrian White Helmets Work Miracles After Earthquake
Monday’s catastrophe has put Syria back in the headlines. But this disaster is exceptional and has revealed the mundane horrors Syrians have been enduring since 2011 have not yet abated. In a place forsaken by the world, rescue workers’ resilience has become a symbol of hope.
Desertification in an Iraqi Bread Basket
The Basra region has been the bread basket of Iraq. But because of salinization of lands, decrease of water flow into rivers due to upstream damming, climate change and pollution, farmers are increasingly unable to farm. People dependent on fish and buffaloes in the marshlands are in competition for food.