Now you see us | Story 5
by Noemí Pascual and Amir H. from Moria Camp, Greece
Two Afghan refugees from Moria Camp cleaning their dishes. The vast majority of refugees come from war-torn countries, 64% come from Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan. A third of this population are children, from which 20% have fled without parents or other adults.
In the camp, there is not much to do for these children and their future is uncertain. This and the insufficient mental health care brings many of this vulnerable group to self-harm. The Dutch medical team from Boat Refugee Foundation has treated various children for self-inflicted wounds, several times a week. Doctors Without Borders has already sounded the alarm about the high ratio of suicides among young children. Unfortunately, a lot of children have to deal with serious behavioral problems after experiencing war situations. There is no adequate support for these children.
Photo taken by Amir H. on August 4th, 2020 with his phone.
We are an Afghan refugee and a photo editor currently living in the Netherlands. One takes the images, the other edits them. We are working in this collaborative project not just to bring awareness but to speak directly to the policy makers in Europe to demand a solution. We want you see and hear us, but at the same time we will preserve the intimacy and right to privacy of the children. We will never use real names and the subjects will remain unidentified. We need your help. Go out, speak to your neighbors, to your friends, start a demonstration, ask and demand a solution to the policy makers where you live to demand change.
Statement:
We value the work of photographers and journalists. But we believe in the power of simple and human photography and less in perfectly composed images. We don't have any political lobby, money campaign behind us. We are showing what's really happening and looking for real actions.
