{"id":3345,"date":"2025-04-27T16:41:46","date_gmt":"2025-04-27T16:41:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/?p=3345"},"modified":"2025-07-07T13:11:32","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T13:11:32","slug":"afghanistan-the-endless-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/stories\/afghanistan-the-endless-war\/","title":{"rendered":"The endless war"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The endless war\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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by Luca Catalano Gonzaga<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Part of A shameless life<\/b> <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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\"\"<\/a><\/figure>

Iraq - 2016<\/a><\/h3>

Surgical treatment<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Nasiriyah, Iraq - 2016<\/a><\/h3>

Burns and war-related traumas<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Nasiriyah, Iraq - 2016<\/a><\/h3>

Restoring smiles<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Damascus, Syria - 2016<\/a><\/h3>

Portrait of a generation at war<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Damascus, Syria - 2016<\/a><\/h3>

Life under the rubble<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan - 2016<\/a><\/h3>

The endless war<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Not a day goes by that Afghanistan isn\u2019t stained with blood due to terrorists\u2019 attacks, explosions and conflicts between Taliban guerrillas and government troops.\u00a0<\/strong>War is like a dark shadow which goes along with people\u2019s daily life, characterizing their rhythm, times and expectations<\/strong>.\u00a0Afghanistan is a very poor country, whose economy is based on the production of opiates for export, which represents 13% of national GDP.\u00a0After decades of war and devastation, the health care system is completely worn out and access to health care has become a privilege for a few; there is shortage of equipped facilities and medicines, particularly in those regions most affected by violence.\u00a0The presence of humanitarian organizations makes the difference for the population.\u00a0This photo reportage was shot by\u00a0Luca Catalano Gonzaga<\/strong>\u00a0in April 2016 in\u00a0Mazar-i Sharif<\/strong>.\u00a0Considered as the actual northern gate of Afghanistan, this city is located at the crossroads of the route that takes to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan or to Central Asia and Russia.\u00a0This strategic position\u00a0makes it a junction for drug trafficking that greatly influences the political and military relationships<\/strong>.\u00a0Even in the city, the use of hard drugs is widespread; approximately 2.000 drug addicts meet at Parwazah Balch (the gate of Parwazah) and use shishah, crystal and heroin, which they inject in the street. The volunteer surgical team of\u00a0Emergenza Sorrisi Onlus<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0acts in Mazar-i Sharif, performing delicate\u00a0plastic surgery to children born with facial deformities or burned due to domestic accidents or unexploded ordnances.\u00a0<\/strong>(text by\u00a0Sebastiano Caputo<\/strong>).<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Aasim accompanies his brother to a medical examination.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Hassan, burned by the explosion of a gas cylinder oven in the kitchen, in his own house. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Naseem has just had surgery for cleft lip.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Raniya just had surgery for severe burns on her body.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Zahira is about to undergo surgery for the severe burns on her body.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Preparation of the operating room.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Cleft lip surgery.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Hospital admissions department.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. A mother caresses her son who has just undergone surgery cleft lip.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Mother accompanies her daughter for preoperative screening before the baby undergoes surgery for her cleft palate.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Mother accompanies her daughter for preoperative screening before the baby undergoes surgery for cleft palate.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Mother accompanies her son for preoperative screening before the child undergoes surgery for cleft palate.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Mother accompanies her son for preoperative screening before the child undergoes surgery for cleft palate.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Parents accompany their son for preoperative screening before he undergoes surgery for cleft palate.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Brother and sister at preoperative screening before both undergo surgery for cleft palate.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Little girl at preoperative screening before undergoing surgery for cleft palate.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Father accompanies his children for preoperative screening before they both undergo surgery for cleft palate.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Aria
Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Family at preoperative screening before both kids undergo surgery for cleft palate.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Mazar-i
Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Most of drug addicts return to consuming narcotics again after their rehabilitation. Lack of awareness about the hazards of using drugs make people indifferent about this dangerous phenomenon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Mazar-i
Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. The number of drug addicts has been increasing in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, because of easy access to narcotics.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Mazar-i
Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Afghanistan produces 90% of all opiate drugs of the world, but, until recently, it was not a major consumer. Now, out of a population of 35 million, more than a million people are addicted to drugs - proportionately the highest figure in the world.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Mazar-i
Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. In broad daylight men and teenage boys sit huddled in pairs smoking and injecting drugs.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Mazar-i
Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Right in the heart of the city, drug addicts gather to buy and use heroin. It's a place of misery and degradation.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Mazar-i
Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. The fate of the most hardcore addicts is to sleep on the streets. Police regularly beat them up and dispere them.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Mazar-i
Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. On the streets of the city.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Mazar-i
Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Market in the heart of the city.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Mazar-i
Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. The Blue Mosque offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of Mazar-i-Sharif streets and bazaars. It is consistently quiet.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Mazar-i
Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. The Blue Mosque, also known as the Shrine of Hazrat Ali.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Mazar-i
Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. The Blue Mosque is described as an oasis of peace thanks to the thousands of white doves surrounding the mosque. The doves flock on the trees, the roof, and the sidewalks. Legend has it the mosque is so sacred that any dove with a speck of color on its feathers will instantly become pure white after entering the mosque\u2019s vicinity.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The endless war by Luca Catalano Gonzaga Part of A shameless life Iraq – 2016 Surgical treatment Nasiriyah, Iraq – 2016 Burns and war-related traumas Nasiriyah, Iraq – 2016 Restoring smiles Damascus, Syria – 2016 Portrait of a generation at war Damascus, Syria – 2016 Life under the rubble Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan – 2016 The endless war Iraq – 2016 Surgical treatment Nasiriyah, Iraq – 2016 Burns and war-related traumas Nasiriyah, Iraq – 2016 Restoring smiles Damascus, Syria – 2016 Portrait of a generation at war Damascus, Syria – 2016 Life under the rubble Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan – 2016 The endless war Not a day goes by that Afghanistan isn\u2019t stained with blood due to terrorists\u2019 attacks, explosions and conflicts between Taliban guerrillas and government troops.\u00a0War is like a dark shadow which goes along with people\u2019s daily life, characterizing their rhythm, times and expectations.\u00a0Afghanistan is a very poor country, whose economy is based on the production of opiates for export, which represents 13% of national GDP.\u00a0After decades of war and devastation, the health care system is completely worn out and access to health care has become a privilege for a few; there is shortage of equipped facilities and medicines, particularly in those regions most affected by violence.\u00a0The presence of humanitarian organizations makes the difference for the population.\u00a0This photo reportage was shot by\u00a0Luca Catalano Gonzaga\u00a0in April 2016 in\u00a0Mazar-i Sharif.\u00a0Considered as the actual northern gate of Afghanistan, this city is located at the crossroads of the route that takes to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan or to Central Asia and Russia.\u00a0This strategic position\u00a0makes it a junction for drug trafficking that greatly influences the political and military relationships.\u00a0Even in the city, the use of hard drugs is widespread; approximately 2.000 drug addicts meet at Parwazah Balch (the gate of Parwazah) and use shishah, crystal and heroin, which they inject in the street. The volunteer surgical team of\u00a0Emergenza Sorrisi Onlus\u00a0acts in Mazar-i Sharif, performing delicate\u00a0plastic surgery to children born with facial deformities or burned due to domestic accidents or unexploded ordnances.\u00a0(text by\u00a0Sebastiano Caputo). Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Aasim accompanies his brother to a medical examination. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Hassan, burned by the explosion of a gas cylinder oven in the kitchen, in his own house. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Naseem has just had surgery for cleft lip. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Raniya just had surgery for severe burns on her body. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Zahira is about to undergo surgery for the severe burns on her body. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Preparation of the operating room. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Cleft lip surgery. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Hospital admissions department. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. A mother caresses her son who has just undergone surgery cleft lip. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Mother accompanies her daughter for preoperative screening before the baby undergoes surgery for her cleft palate. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Mother accompanies her daughter for preoperative screening before the baby undergoes surgery for cleft palate. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Mother accompanies her son for preoperative screening before the child undergoes surgery for cleft palate. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Mother accompanies her son for preoperative screening before the child undergoes surgery for cleft palate. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Parents accompany their son for preoperative screening before he undergoes surgery for cleft palate. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Brother and sister at preoperative screening before both undergo surgery for cleft palate. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Little girl at preoperative screening before undergoing surgery for cleft palate. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Father accompanies his children for preoperative screening before they both undergo surgery for cleft palate. Aria Teaching Hospital, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Family at preoperative screening before both kids undergo surgery for cleft palate. Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Most of drug addicts return to consuming narcotics again after their rehabilitation. Lack of awareness about the hazards of using drugs make people indifferent about this dangerous phenomenon. Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. The number of drug addicts has been increasing in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, because of easy access to narcotics. Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Afghanistan produces 90% of all opiate drugs of the world, but, until recently, it was not a major consumer. Now, out of a population of 35 million, more than a million people are addicted to drugs – proportionately the highest figure in the world. Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. In broad daylight men and teenage boys sit huddled in pairs smoking and injecting drugs. Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Right in the heart of the city, drug addicts gather to buy and use heroin. It’s a place of misery and degradation. Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. The fate of the most hardcore addicts is to sleep on the streets. Police regularly beat them up and dispere them. Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. On the streets of the city. Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. Market in the heart of the city. Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. The Blue Mosque offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of Mazar-i-Sharif streets and bazaars. It is consistently quiet. Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. The Blue Mosque, also known as the Shrine of Hazrat Ali. Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan 2016. The Blue Mosque is described as an oasis of peace thanks to the thousands of white doves surrounding the mosque. The doves flock on the trees, the roof, and the sidewalks. Legend has it the mosque is so sacred that any dove with a speck of color on its feathers will instantly become pure white after entering the mosque\u2019s vicinity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-stories"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3345","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3345"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8414,"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3345\/revisions\/8414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}