The Khanke camp, near Dohuk in Kurdistan/ northern Iraq.

Hajji Mirza is from Tel Azar. Now, he and his family live under a tent in Khanke camp, near Dohuk in northern Iraq. He is one among 2’908 families, or 16’611 people. “For 20 years I worked as construction worker in Tikrit. For 15 years I did the same in Kurdistan. We did not ask for government positions, we did not protest, all what we want is to continue our way of life. In spite of all that they keep killing us.”

Hajji Mirza is from Tel Azar. Now, he and his family live under a tent in Khanke camp, near Dohuk in northern Iraq.

Children stop to buy something in the shop of Hajji Mirza inside the Khanke Camp,
near Dohuk in the Northern Kurdistan Iraq.

Work is ongoing at the Camp Khanki, near Duhok, northern Iraq. The camp is large with 3120 tents. 2908 families and 16611 people.

#photography #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #webster #nikonpro #iraq #keystone

#yazidi #refugee #sinjar #peshmerga

The safe corridor that saved thousands of Yazidi's from the Mount Sinjar in Augsut 2014.

Sinjar fell on August 3rd 2014. Thousands were trapped on top of Mount Sinjar. Mahmoud, a former peshmerga soldier, helped with the 'coridor' that helped liberating many Yazidi people from the Sinjar mountain between 9th and 11th of August 2014. People could then walk into Syria and then later back in to northern Iraq on the north side of Mount Sinjar. The "corridor" was established from the mountain enabled 10,000 people to evacuate on the first day. Mahmod now works for Yazda, an NGO working on helping the Yazidi population in Northern Kurdistan Iraq. He is based in their office in Dogure, a village at the foot of Mount Sinjar.

Mahmoud, former peshmerga soldier,  now works with the NGO Yassda at their office in Dogure village at the foot of Mount Sinjar.

#photography #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #webster #nikonpro #iraq #keystone #yazidi #refugee #sinjar #peshmerga

The fire, near Chamchamal/ Kirkuk, continuous to burn.

Around a year ago, an attempt to find water caused this strange phenomena. While drilling for water, one man lit a cigarette and the water source caught fire. It has continued to burn since. Chamchamal Kirkuk, Iraq.

The location of the fire is close to the motorway.

It is located in a very dry area

It is a spectacular sight to see fire and water coming from the same source... 

#photography #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #webster #nikonpro #iraq #keystone #yazidi #refugee #sinjar #peshmerga #sinjarmountain #Chamchamal #fire #kirkuk #water

Coffee and cocoa production in the Ivory Coast.

Looking for the coffee field in the Ivory Coast. Great experience meeting with people working for a cooperative in order to optimise their coffee and cocoa production.

Green and grey conditions during the rain season in the Ivory Coast.

‪#‎photography‬ ‪#‎documentary‬ ‪#‎photojournalism‬ ‪#‎reportage‬ ‪#‎webster‬ ‪#‎nikonpro‬ ‪#‎keystone‬ #‎ivorycoast #abidjan #‎marked #foodresearch

Refugees, Sinjar Mountain, Kurdistan Iraq.

Many Yazidi people who fled Sinjar when the city fell on August 3rd, 2014 have stayed in temporary or random camps set up on top of the Sinjar mountain in the north of Kurdistan Iraq. It is still not safe to move back to Sinjar, which is only about 20 minutes drive away. Sinjar region, June 2016.

A Yazidi child living with her family in a temporary camp on top of the Sinjar Mountain.

Several temporary refugee camps have been set up on top of the Sinjar Mountain.

Shwan Omar Isa runs a small convenience store on top of the Sinjar mountain.

Young Yazidi men playing pool in one of the random road side camps on top of the Sinjar Mountrain.

Children at one of the temporary camps. 

A child is staying the shade.

Some agriculture is attempted on to off the mountain.

Sinjar city can be seen in the background as you approach the top of the Sinjar mountain. 

These Yazidi chilédren are currently living at the Camp Khanki. They were preparing for a football competition between children from other camps in the Duhok area in northern Iraq. The camp is large with 3120 tents. 2908 families and 16611 people.

The last town before reaching Sinjar. Duhok is about an hour and a half from Sinjar. It was never atacked by ISIS although ISIS rached very close, after Sinjar fell in August 2014.

In order to have documents written in Duhok, you need to stop by a print store.

Kurdish people enjoying the evening witgh games and tea. Duhok, Northern Iraq/ Kurdistan.  Here, Sherzad, the owner of the restaurant, is playing with his friends.

Kurdish men enjoying the evening with games and tea. Duhok, Northern Iraq/ Kurdistan.

Lalesh, in northern Iraq, not to far from Duhok, is the spiritual village or the Holiest place for the Yazidi people. 

A shooting position used by ISIS inside the hospital in Sinjar. 

#photography #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #webster #nikonpro #iraq #keystone #yazidi #refugee #sinjar #peshmerga #sinjarmountain #worldphotoday #fifdh

The hospital in Sinjar

There was only one man in the hospital in Sinjar, apart from the pharmacist who showed us around. The man in the picture is cleaning the dishes after lunch. Most of the hospital was damaged. Sinjar city on June 2nd 2016. 

The canteen at the hospital in Sinjar city. The hospital is badly damaged as well as vandalised- but still functioning for some basic treatments. 

#photography #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #webster #nikonpro #iraq #keystone #yazidi #refugee #sinjar #peshmerga

Sinjar city: the tunnels.

As Sinjar was liberated in November 2015 Peshmerga soldiers continues to keep what is left of Sinjar city safe. Networks of tunnels between the buildings were found by Peshmerga soldiers after international air strikes helped liberating the city. This photo is from my visit to Sinjar, with colleague Vicken Cheterian, on June 2nd  2016. 

A Peshmerga soldier is showing a tunnel made by the opposition
 inside a building in Sinjar city. 

#photography #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #webster #nikonpro #iraq #keystone #yazidi #refugee #sinjar #peshmerga

The Yazidi people.

"Who remembers the Yazidi people..." excellent and important story in Agos by my colleague Vicken Cheterian from our visit to Iraq together in June. More pictures coming soon...

The tent of a brave Yazidi woman and what is left of her family. 

#photography #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #webster #nikonpro #iraq #keystone #yazidi #refugee #sinjar #peshmerga

Sinjar City, Kurdistan Iraq.

Sinjar city, the destruction of the city of Sinjar is massive. Sinjar was "liberated by the international coalition and local Peshmerga forces in November last year but us still difficult to access and it is mostly destroyed. Peshmerga soldiers tries to protect the city. The destruction of Sinjar is massive- it will take a long time to rebuild.

The destruction of Sinjar is massive- it will take a long time to rebuild.

#photography #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #webster #nikonpro #iraq #keystone #yazidi #refugee #sinjar #peshmerga

Marit Strømøy, A professional F1 powerboat racing driver from Norway.

It is always fun to catch up with old friends. And, particularly when they are someone like a professional power boat driver! Marit Strømøy was racing in Evian, France last weekend in the F1h2o. She won the last race of the last season and is one of the favourites as well as the only female pilot. She came 6th which is excellent for the conditions in Evian- next race is in Portugal- lets hope for even better results there! She was also in France where her watch, made by B.R.M. was launched. B.R.M. is partnering with F1h2o.

Marit Strømøy in Evian for the F1 race as well as the launch of her new watch from B.R.M.!

It was a beautiful day in Evian for the F1h2o race last weekend. 

Marit and her husband Andrea Colombo (R) after the race.

Marit Strømøy in Evian for the F1 race.

#reportage #photography #photojournalism #nikonpro #norge #watch #d810 #nikon #documentary #maritstroemoey #stromoyracing #f1 #boatracing #brm #revolutionmag #revolution

Srebrenica, July 11th, 21 years after the Genocide.

Every year, there is a peace march (Mars Mira) between Tuzla and Potocari, near Srebrenica. It follows the route taken by boys, men and some women when they tried to escape to safety, after Srebrenica fell to Ratko Mladic on July 11th 1995. Only this time, it goes in opposite direction, honouring the over 8000 who died during this one week period. Upon arrival in Potocari (The walk takes 3 days and covers about 120 km), the memorial ceremony takes place and the burial of the dead will happen. Every year the remains of the identified bodies are laid to rest. There are still around 1000 bodies that have not been buried. Some are yet to discovered.

Bellow is a picture of Advija. Her interview can be read here.

A man is praying at the burial of the dead at the Potocari memorial cemetery on July 11th 2014

Thousands of family and friends came to help and to pay respect that memorial funeral that took place in Potocari,
near Srebrenica, on July 11th this year.

After the rainfall, the graves were full of water. this man is preparing the grave for a relative who can finally
be laid to rest, 19 years after the genocide which took place in Srebrenica in July 1995.

The victims of the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica are buried at the Potocari memorial cemetery, on July 11th 2014

Advija can finaly lay her father to rest. He is one of 520 people being buried on July 11th 2012.

More info: http://www.keystone.ch/

‪#‎genocide‬ ‪#‎neveragain‬ ‪#‎photography‬ ‪#‎documentary‬‪ #‎photojournalism‬ ‪#‎reportage‬ ‪#‎webster‬ ‪#‎nikonpro‬ ‪‪#‎marsmira‬‪ ‪#‎bosnia‬ ‪#‎srebrenica‬ ‪#‎websteruniversity‬‪ ‪#‎keystone‬ ‪

Mars Mira- Arriving in Potocari.

On July 11th 2014, there were 175 victims of the 1995 genocide  that were laid to rest.

The caskets are being placed for in the warehouse in Potocari, the day before the "burial of the dead".
They are then carried out, across the street in order to be given the last resting place at the
Potocari Memorial cemetery.

In 2011, 617 people were laid to rest. There are still around 1000 victims that have yet to be identified and
buried at the Potocari Memorial cemetery.

On the last day of the Mars Mira-Peace March between Tuzla and Srebrenica, the walkers arrives in Potocari, just a few kilometres from Srebrenica. This is where the Potocari Memorial Cemetery is and this is where the UN Head Office was located during the war. The "Burial of the Dead" Ceremony takes place on July 11th, the day when Srebrenica fell in 1995.

More info: http://www.keystone.ch/

‪#‎genocide‬ ‪#‎neveragain‬ ‪#‎photography‬ ‪#‎documentary‬‪ #‎photojournalism‬ ‪#‎reportage‬ ‪#‎webster‬ ‪#‎nikonpro‬ ‪‪#‎marsmira‬‪ ‪#‎bosnia‬ ‪#‎srebrenica‬ ‪#‎websteruniversity‬‪ ‪#‎keystone‬ ‪

The Peace March- Mars Mira- Never Forget Srebrenica.

Walkers taking part ini the Mars Mira Peace March between Nzuk and Potocari, July 2011.

The Mars Mira or Peace Walk is following the footsteps of the "Death March"- referring to the route where men and boys tried to escape when Srebrenica fell on July 11th 1995. Over 8000 were killed during one week during the Srebrenica Genocide.

The route between Tuzla and Srebrenica, through the hills and the woods, is approximately 120km. The Peace March takes 3 days. I have done the march and have visited the last 5 years. Unfortunately I cannot be there this year.
More info: http://www.keystone.ch/
‪#‎genocide‬ ‪#‎neveragain‬ ‪#‎photography‬ ‪#‎documentary‬‪ #‎photojournalism‬ ‪#‎reportage‬ ‪#‎webster‬ ‪#‎nikonpro‬ ‪‪#‎marsmira‬‪ ‪#‎bosnia‬ ‪#‎srebrenica‬ ‪#‎websteruniversity‬‪ ‪#‎keystone‬ ‪

Halabja, June 3rd 2016. 28 years after the Halabja Genocide.

Two women walking in the Jewish quarter in the city of Halabja, Iraq. On Mach 16th, 1988,  Iraqi planes dropped gas canisters on the town. Over 5000 people were killed and over 7000 people injured.

Two women walking in the Jewish quarter in the city of Halabja, Iraq

#photography #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #webster #nikonpro #iraq #keystone
#halabja #genocide #gassattack

Baghdad, Kirkuk, Mousul

Iraq, Kurdistan. Baghdad, Kirkuk, Mousul.

Fallujah is now liberated. Just like Sinjar about 7 month ago. Visiting Sinjar was a very special feeling but hearing the stories from the survivors was awful. I will post a few more posts on this in the coming few weeks. Stay in touch. 

Baghdad, Kirkuk, Mousul

#photography #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #webster #nikonpro #iraq #keystone
#yazidi #refugee #sinjar #worldrefugeeday

World Refugee Day, June 20th 2016.

Displaced Yazidi people living in tents next to the official camp near the town of Khanki, North Iraq, Kurdistan Region.

Yesterday, June 20th, was the World Refugee Day. This is from earlier this month, when I visited  displaced Yazidi people, with Vicken Cheterian. These people currently live in tents next to the official camp near the town of Khanki, North Iraq, Kurdistan Region. Most fled when the city of Sinjar fell in August 2014. More to come. Photo: Vicken Cheterian.
#photography #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #webster #nikonpro #iraq #keystone
#yazidi #refugee #sinjar #worldrefugeeday