ICRC orthopaedic center Kabul - two decades of assisting Afghan amputees
An artificial feet being prepared for an Afghan child.
ICRC orthopaedic center, Kabul, Afghanistan, June 2012.
Perhaps this is not the kind of photographs one expects to see when he or she searches for photos from Afghanistan. We look for the kind of war we’ve been told about, the so-called “European War” where one side is ultimately good and the other – utterly evil. The kind of war shown in Western movies.
Polish Canal Plus just starts our (in the meaning of Poland) first ever, longer tv material about Afghanistan. It is called Mission Afganistan, it’s a TV series (non-documentary) and.. it shows Polish soldiers and their daily problems of life and war in the country.
The Afghan nation, yet again, is treated as a speechless entity, a crowd disallowed to say something, to voice their opinions, perspectives and needs. Poland was treated just the same way till 1989 and it amazes me that we needed only two decades to treat others just the same way. I am sincerely sorry and I am ashamed for this.
After six years of military engagement of Poland in Afghanistan, we are going to see… brave Polish soldiers at war. They are given enough voice. The whole Afghan nation is treated marginally. Not even as a background in the movie, because it was filmed - in Poland.
Over last few years I have tried to document and show what I saw as a daily life in Afghanistan. It’s beautiful inhabitants, their happiness and sorrow. I made many mistakes on the way but I always tried my best.
I’m bringing pictures of an orthopaedic center in Kabul to show what Mission Afghanistan really should be about.
International Committee of Red Cross assists and puts back on artificial legs and arms those that were deprived of their limbs by a bullet to spine from a U.S., British, Polish, Taliban, Mujaheddin or Soviet rifle, that lost their limbs in IED explosions, in bombardments, in war, while going to a wedding, taking a flock of sheep to grazing land or at home, while sleeping, praying, eating.
ICRC helps through a lens of neutrality, impartiality and with a focus on respecting human dignity. Since two decades they assisted hundreds of thousands of Afghan amputees, people that were made physically impaired just because someone decided to wage a war in their neighbourhood.
These are my heroes, who fight with troubles and problems on daily basis. These are the heroes of Afghanistan, not international soldiers. They commit acts of bravery.
Heroism is not about bravery, it is just about something else.
I had a chance to watch ICRC at work in their largest orthopaedic center in Kabul. Of 200 workers in it, including in hospital, workshop, management etc., almost each and every one is an amputee.
ICRC managed to create a unique place for those that work there and those receiving assistance. A place one of a kind many call their second home.
ICRC orthopaedic center Kabul - two decades of assisting Afghan amputees
An artificial feet being prepared for an Afghan child.
ICRC orthopaedic center, Kabul, Afghanistan, June 2012.
Perhaps this is not the kind of photographs one expects to see when he or she searches for photos from Afghanistan. We look for the kind of war we’ve been told about, the so-called “European War” where one side is ultimately good and the other – utterly evil. The kind of war shown in Western movies.
Polish Canal Plus just starts our (in the meaning of Poland) first ever, longer tv material about Afghanistan. It is called Mission Afganistan, it’s a TV series (non-documentary) and.. it shows Polish soldiers and their daily problems of life and war in the country.
The Afghan nation, yet again, is treated as a speechless entity, a crowd disallowed to say something, to voice their opinions, perspectives and needs. Poland was treated just the same way till 1989 and it amazes me that we needed only two decades to treat others just the same way. I am sincerely sorry and I am ashamed for this.
After six years of military engagement of Poland in Afghanistan, we are going to see… brave Polish soldiers at war. They are given enough voice. The whole Afghan nation is treated marginally. Not even as a background in the movie, because it was filmed - in Poland.
Over last few years I have tried to document and show what I saw as a daily life in Afghanistan. It’s beautiful inhabitants, their happiness and sorrow. I made many mistakes on the way but I always tried my best.
I’m bringing pictures of an orthopaedic center in Kabul to show what Mission Afghanistan really should be about.
International Committee of Red Cross assists and puts back on artificial legs and arms those that were deprived of their limbs by a bullet to spine from a U.S., British, Polish, Taliban, Mujaheddin or Soviet rifle, that lost their limbs in IED explosions, in bombardments, in war, while going to a wedding, taking a flock of sheep to grazing land or at home, while sleeping, praying, eating.
ICRC helps through a lens of neutrality, impartiality and with a focus on respecting human dignity. Since two decades they assisted hundreds of thousands of Afghan amputees, people that were made physically impaired just because someone decided to wage a war in their neighbourhood.
These are my heroes, who fight with troubles and problems on daily basis. These are the heroes of Afghanistan, not international soldiers. They commit acts of bravery.
Heroism is not about bravery, it is just about something else.
I had a chance to watch ICRC at work in their largest orthopaedic center in Kabul. Of 200 workers in it, including in hospital, workshop, management etc., almost each and every one is an amputee.
ICRC managed to create a unique place for those that work there and those receiving assistance. A place one of a kind many call their second home.