Reference :
V-P-AF-E-02348
Date :
17/03/2016
Caption :
Balkh province, district of Sholgara. The ICRC president Peter Maurer speaks with local elders involved with an ICRC sponsored project to build a water reservoir.
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Description :
ICRC website article, 21.03.2016: “ Afghanistan: Diary from the ground. […]Day 4 – Faces of history and humanity. There are many ways to learn about history. I learned that when I studied history at university, and I was reminded of it today, in a rural region of northern Afghanistan. One way to learn about history is to observe the faces of people. The faces of the village elders I met today teach you about history. In their eyes, you see the pain of suffering, in their scars you see the roughness of nature, in their wrinkles you see the experience of old age. They told me how in their village – just a few mud huts scattered across dark green mountains – every family decides together who of the men will leave to seek work abroad. There are practically no jobs in the region, so leaving is the only option. They told me that they mostly go to neighbouring countries, to work as day labourers and save some money to feed their families. When I asked if any of them had gone to Europe to seek work, they laughed. "Europe is for rich people," they told me. I enjoyed seeing them laugh. Even if there was a hint of desperation, their smiles showed another side of history: humanity. […]”, said the ICRC president after his visit.
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
7360x4912
Orientation :
landscape
Colour/B&W :
colour
