The world is facing the greatest humanitarian challenges in recent memory. Around the globe, 128 million people are trapped in crisis and struggling to survive. A record-breaking 65 million have fled their homes due to conflict and violence, many of them leaving with little more than the clothes on their backs, in search of safety and assistance.
Through two new photo projects, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has embarked on a journey to tell the stories of people affected by conflict and natural disasters. The photos, taken by photographer Vincent Tremeau in some of the world’s most severe emergencies, aim to shed light on what it means to live through a crisis.
For “What We Share,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) teamed up with photographers to explore the theme of solidarity in times of displacement. The first series, photographed by Vincent Tremeau, tells the stories of host families in Niger, who share what little they have with Nigerian refugees fleeing violence and insecurity. The second series, a joint collaboration between Stefano Carini and Rawsht Twana, focuses on the common history and memories that displaced people share in northern Iraq, a region of the world that has witnessed multiple waves of displacement.
While displacement often conjures up images of people crossing borders and seas, seeking assistance and protection, “What We Share” offers a unique perspective, highlighting the powerful ties that bind people together in the most trying of circumstances.
