Visual Perspectives on the Refugee Crisis — The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs

by Forum Staff

The refugee crisis is inescapable in today’s news. Striking visuals emerging from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa illustrate a story of both desperation and hope. These images allow viewers to stand for a moment alongside migrants and refugees fleeing their home countries in search of a new life and new opportunities.

On November 14-15, the Tufts Institute for Global Leadership (IGL) and VII Photo Agency mark 10 years of collaboration with a series of seminars and workshops at VII Perspectives: Migration. VII founder and Chair of IGL’s Program for Narrative and Documentary Practice, Gary Knight, will be joined by leading VII photojournalists for two days of dialogue and hands-on experience. A selection of several of the photographers’ work on the refugee crisis is highlighted below.

Photos by Ashley Gilbertson

Ashley Gilbertson’s images capture refugees – mostly from Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, as well as regions of the Balkans and Africa – on their way into and through Europe during September 2015.

The exodus of people from Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East to Europe is the largest movement of people since World War II. Working in the refugee transit centers, which see thousands of people daily, the photographer notes that conditions at some of the camps are getting slightly better. However, some conditions – such as five hour train rides packed so tightly there is no room to move beyond the spot people are standing – reflect challenges in addressing the scale of the crisis.

One thousand migrants and refugees from countries including Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, as well as regions of the Balkans and Africa at an emergency shelter at Olympia Stadiom in Berlin, Germany on September 24, 2015.

Hussein Nabizadeh, 32, holds his sons hand and he walks with other refugees, primarily from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan who are being aided by volunteers as they disembark boats near Mithimna, on the island of Lesvos, Greece on September 28, 2015.

Refugees primarily from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are helped by volunteers as they disembark boats near Scala, on the island of Lesvos, Greece on September 30, 2015. The Agean sea is particularly rough, with the first signs of winter storms beginning today. Many refugees were sea sick, some to the point of life threatening conditions due to dehydration and cold.

Refugees primarily from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are called to by volunteers as they land near Scala, on the island of Lesvos, Greece on September 30, 2015.

Kadoni Kinan, 26, a volunteer, helps a young Syrian boy as he disembarks a boat near Scala, on the island of Lesvos, Greece on September 30, 2015. Kadoni Kinan left his home in Saragep, Syria five years ago. Kinan successfully filed for refugee status, and today lives in Belgium, where he studies Flemish at school and volunteers for the Red Cross.

Two children play while they wait at a refugee transit camp, or reception center for refugees and migrants, in Idomeni, Greece on October 2, 2015. Idomeni camp has between 5,000 and 10,000 people pass through a day, and as the crisis continues, the conditions at the camp get slightly better. From here, refugees walk into Macedonia, and then board a special train to the Serbian border.

Refugees, primarily from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq prepare to board a train at a refugee transit camp, or reception center for refugees and migrants, in Gevgelija, Macedonia on October 2, 2015.

Mushawa Mosani-Akberi, 15, kisses his brother, Sajar, 1, being held by Razeer, a relative, before making his way to the Serbian border on October 4, 2015. Mushawa has been traveling from his home in Ghazni, Afghanistan for the past two weeks. He hopes to end his journey in France, where he dreams of becoming an architect. His parents could not afford the journey and remained behind in Afghanistan. The train, which is decades old and run down, takes five hours and costs each refugee, adult or child, €25.

Refugees and migrants enter a registration and transit center in Opatovac, Croatia, on October 7, 2015. Approximately 4000-5000 people, mostly from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, pass through this border town every day on their way to Western Europe.

Images courtesy Ashley Gilbertson/VII Photo Agency

Photos by Maciek Nabrdalik

Maciek Nabrdalik’s work from September 2015 depicts the journey of refugees as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesvos in rubber dinghies. These individuals continue their journey across the island, eventually headed for ferries to Athens, and beyond.

Refugees from Syria rest on the coast of the Greek island of Lesbos on September 24, 2015. Thousands of refugees cross the Aegean Sea from Turkey in rubber boats everyday fleeing conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Refugees reach the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing through Aegean Sea from Turkey in dinghies on September 24, 2015.

Family and volunteers surround a refugee who collapsed on a beach after arriving in an overcrowded dinghy on the Greek island of Lesbos from Turkey on September 24, 2015.

Refugees rest on the coast of the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing through Aegean Sea from Turkey in rubber boats on September 23, 2015.

Refugees wait in a queue for a bus organized by the local NGOs to go toward registration camp near Mytilene on September 23, 2015.

Refugees wait overnight to buy ferry tickets to Athens in front of a travel office in the Port of Mytilene on the Greek island of Lesbos on September 24, 2015.

Thousands of refugees board two night ferries toward Athens at the Port of Mytilene on the Greek island of Lesbos on September 24, 2015.

Images courtesy Maciek Nabrdalik/VII Photo Agency

Photos by Franco Pagetti

Franco Pagetti’s images from September 2-3, 2015 in the Strait of Sicily capture the work of the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

MOAS is a humanitarian search and rescue operation assisting vessels in distress in the central Mediterranean Sea. MOAS vessels use remote piloted aircraft to monitor the seas and provide real-time intelligence to MOAS and the rescue coordination center of Malta and Italy.

Strait of Sicily, September 2, 2015. Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) is a humanitarian search and rescue operation assisting vessels in distress in the central Mediterranean Sea. The MOAS expedition vessel, named Phoenix, is equipped with two Camcopter S-100 remote piloted aircraft (RPAs) which monitor the seas from the sky and provide real-time intelligence to MOAS and the rescue coordination centre of Malta and Italy.

Strait of Sicily, September 2, 2015. Eritrean migrants are seen in their boat as they are about to be rescued 40 miles from the Libyan coasts by a ship hired by MOAS and MSF (Medecines sans Frontieres). The ship named "Phoenix" was patrolling when the two drones found 3 wooden fishing boats coming probably from Zuwara (Lybia).

Strait of Sicily, September 2, 2015. Eritrean migrants are seen in their boat as they are about to be rescued 40 miles from the Libyan coasts by a ship hired by MOAS and MSF (Medecines sans Frontieres).

Strait of Sicily, September 2, 2015. 40 miles fromt he Libyan coast the Phoenix with MOAS/MSF Holland team are rescuing two old wooden boat coming from Libya with 600 people on board.

Strait of Sicily, September 2, 2015, a woman praying after been rescued. 40 miles from the Libyan coast , MOAS/MSF Holland team are rescuing two old wooden boat coming from Libya with 550 people on board. All the refugees in these boats where coming from Eritrea and they have been embarked in the Libyan port of Zuwarah.

Strait of Sicily, September 2, 2015. Eritrean refugees, who were rescued at sea by a ship named "Phoenix," which was patrolling near the Libya coasts when the two drones found 3 wooden fishing boats.

Strait of Sicily, September 3, 2015. During the 48 hours of sailing to the Italian port of Reggio Calabria, refugees from Eritrea, rescued by MOAS/MSF operation, are sadly looking to the sea.

Images courtesy Franco Pagetti/VII Photo Agency

Photos by Ed Kashi

In November 2013, photographer Ed Kashi went to Iraq and Jordan, working with the International Medical Corps (IMC). IMC is a humanitarian non-profit organization that provides aid and relief to those affected by conflict and crisis.

The photographer’s work reflects IMC’s efforts to increase awareness and improve not only the physical, but also the mental health of young refugees plagued by depression, fear, suffering, and the sense of a life turned upside down. His images intimately llustrates the plight of this lost generation.

Refugee children gather by the fire in the middle of the desert between the Syrian and Iraqi borders in Ereinbeh, Jordan on Nov. 14, 2013. Photographer Ed Kashi went to Iraq and Jordan, working with the International Medical Corps, IMC, a humanitarian non-profit organization that provides aid and relief to those affected by conflict and crisis, to intimately illustrate the plight of this lost generation.

Refugees walk through the overcrowded Al Za'atri refugee camp for Syrians, near Mafraq, Jordan on Nov. 17, 2013. There, International Medical Corps, IMC, is pushing to increase awareness and improve not only the physical, but also the mental health of young refugees plagued by depression, fear, suffering, and the sense of a life turned upside down.

Reem, 13, spends time wither her siblings in her family tent at the Al Za'atri refugee camp for Syrians, near Mafraq, Jordan on Nov. 18, 2013. Reem is a Syrian refugee suffering from mental health issues. While she was in Syria, Reem witnessed several armed conflicts, killing, bombing and kidnapping. She has been living in a tent at the Za'atri camp wither her family since January 2013.

Young girls practice a dance together at the Domiz Refugee camp for Syrians, located just outside of Dohuk, Iraq, on Nov. 21, 2013.

Children gather in an enclave of tents at the Al Za'atri refugee camp for Syrians near Mafraq, Jordan on Nov. 25, 2013.

Reem, 13, spends a quiet moment alone at the Al Za'atri refugee camp for Syrians, near Mafraq, Jordan on Nov. 25, 2013. While she was in Syria, Reem witnessed several armed conflicts, killing, bombing and kidnapping. Refusing to attend school, Reem was overwhelmed by fear and insecurities. Since, Reem has engaged in Psychotherapy sessions and Psychosocial activities. Reem has started to go to school, build a social network, and improve her family relationships, stress management, and coping skills.

A young girl enjoys a lollipop while watching shoppers in the Domiz Camp for Syrian Refugees just outside of Dohuk, Iraq on Nov. 23, 2013.

Images courtesy Ed Kashi/VII Photo Agency

Photos by Ron Haviv

Like Maciek Nabrdalik’s, this selection of Ron Haviv’s photographs are centered on the Lesvos, Greece. There, he has captured the work of volunteers helping refugees to arrive safely, as well as the migrants’ journey once they have made it to shore.