Archive

Jabhat Al Nusra Seizure of Syrian Government Checkpoint, Falita - Syria, Apr 2015

Taken on 2015-04-12

Jabhat Al Nusra (JAN) fighters seize a government checkpoint around Falita village. The Qalamun mountain range designates the Syrian side of the Eastern Lebanon Mountain Range, running parallel to the Beqaa Valley and has been the scene of constant battles between a number of belligerents including the Syrian Arab Army and affiliated forces (primarily Hezbollah); and opposition fores including the Islamic State, Free Syrian Army, and Jabhat Al Nusra. The Qalamun range is used by the opposition as a rear base for operations around Damascus and Homs. The Syrian Government maintains a number of military bases in the region and uses the nearby highway to link Damascus with the central Homs area.

Source: Al Manara Al Bayda - Qalamun/BosnjoBoy

Uploaded by mfa1988 on 2015-05-04

ICRC Personnel Delivering Aid

Taken on 2015-04-10

"On 26 March the SMM facilitated ceasefire in Shyrokyne and access for ICRC which delivered blankets, candles, food and hygiene items to 50 families. In early April 2015, The OSCE SMM Deputy Chief Monitor visited Shyrokyne in order to encourage parties to disengage and assess situation on the ground." Shyrokyne is an important strategic town in the conflict between the Ukrainian government and Donetsk People's Republic separatists. It is only a few kilometers from the large coastal city of Mariupol.

Source: OSCE Flickr

Uploaded by SamiGoat on 2015-05-09

Funeral Service for Seven Pakistani Militants Killed in Syria, Qom - Iran, Apr 2015

Taken on 2015-04-09

Funeral service in Qom for seven Pakistani militants killed in action in Syria. The militants belonged to the Liwa Zainebiyoun (Followers of Zaineb Brigade), composed of Pakistani and Afghan Shi'a fighters and tasked with defending the Sayyida Zainab shrine in Damascus. Liwa Zainebiyoun is one of several foreign troop formations fighting on the side of the Syrian Arab Army. Iranian military and police officials attended the service as well as the deceased's families and Pakistani nationals in Qom.

Source: Fars News Agency/ Seyed Ruhollah Moosavi/Imgur

Uploaded by mfa1988 on 2015-04-18

Scenes of Kurdish Women who Have Taken Up Arms Against ISIS; Kurdish Iraq and Syria, 2014-2015

Taken on 2015-04-01 *

Featured in this photo report are scenes of women who have taken up arms against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The majority of these female fighters come from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a militant organization with Marxist-Leninst roots based in Turkey and Iraq that seeks greater political rights and cultural autonomy for Kurds; and the Syria based Women's Protection Unit (YPJ), which is strongly associated with the PKK. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organisation by several states and organisations including Turkey, the USA and NATO. Despite being listed as a terrorist organisation several sources have stated that informal cooperation between the USA and PKK exist in the context of the ongoing battle against ISIS. It is said among the Kurds that their female fighters inspire great fear in the ISIS militants, who believe that if they are killed by a woman they will not go to heaven.

Source: BBC Urdu/PBS/FolkKurd

Uploaded by Taylor on 2015-08-31

Evacuation of Indian Nationals, Aden - Yemen, Mar 2015

Taken on 2015-03-31

Consequent upon the Government of India issuing an advisory for Indian nationals to leave Yemen, the Indian Navy has deployed three ships in support of the evacuation operation. In a well coordinated operation involving multiple agencies, INS Sumitra, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, which has been deployed for anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden since 11 Mar 15 was the first to undertake evacuation from Yemen. The ship was re-deployed off the Port of Aden on 30 Mar 15 and, thereafter, entered Aden Harbour in the evening of 31 Mar 15. The ship evacuated 349 Indians from Aden - on disembarkation of these personnel at Djibouti, the ship is scheduled to return to Aden to undertake further evacuation, if required.

Source: Indian Navy

Uploaded by mfa1988 on 2015-04-18

Rohingya Refugee Rural Slum; Kutupalong, Bangladesh, Mar 2015

Taken on 2015-03-31

The Rohingya people are a Muslim minority group historically based in Rakhine state, Myanmar. The Rohingya people are considered “stateless entities”, as the Myanmar government has been refusing to recognise them as one of the ethnic groups of the country. To escape persecution and hostility, the Rohingya people have being fleeing Myanmar and Bangladesh in high numbers. From January to March in 2015, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that 25,000 people have been taken to boats by human traffickers. There are claims that around 100 people died in Indonesia, 200 in Malaysia, and 10 in Thailand (see 2015 Wiki 'Rohingya Refugee Crisis' page for more information) Featured in this photo report are scenes of Rohingya refugees settled in rural slums around the UNCHR-government run camp of Kutupalong. Unlike the refugees settled in the UNCHR camp, who are entitled to shelter, food rations, access to school and health services, the unregistered refugees in the slum are considered illegal migrants and therefore don’t have access to any government or UN services.

Source: DG ECHO/Pierre Prakash/flickr

Uploaded by Taylor on 2015-11-18

Gas Leak Explosion in East Village New York City, United States, Mar 2015

Taken on 2015-03-26

A devastating gas explosion affected the East Village on Thursday March 26, 2015, causing four buildings to become engulfed in flames, with two collapsing and a third in danger of falling down. At least 19 people were injured — four critically — and one was missing.

Source: Twitter/Scott Westerfeld

Uploaded by SamiGoat on 2015-03-28

Faylaq Al Sham (Islamic Front Affiliated) Fighter Smashes a Statue of Hafez Al Assad

Taken on 2015-03-26

The Second Battle of Idlib ("Operation to Free Idlib") was a military operation in the Idlib Governorate, during the Syrian Civil War, conducted by rebels against Syrian government forces defending Idlib city. The Battle took place between March 24 - March 28 2015 and resulted in the Rebel Capture of Idlib City, the siege of the Shi'a towns of Kafarya and al-Fu'ah and a government retreat to al- Mastouma. Multiple Islamist and Free Syrian Army affiliated rebel factions conducted the operation under the unified 'Jaysh Al Fatah' (Army of Liberation) operations room. Present factions included Jabhat Al Nusra, Ahrar Al Sham, Faylaq Al Sham, Ajnad Al Sham, Jaysh Al Sunna, Liwa Al Haqq, and Jund Al Aqsa. Idlib became the second major provincial capital to fall to rebel forces, after Ar-Raqqah which was captured by the rebels in March 2013, who were subsequently routed from it by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (See Second Battle of Idlib Wiki page for more detail).

Uploaded by mfa1988 on 2015-04-19

Ukrainian President Poroshenko Welcomes Delivery of American Humvee Armored Cars, Mar 2015

Taken on 2015-03-25

Ukrainian leaders, including President Poroshenko, welcomed the first batch of American Humvee vehicles on Wednesday March 25, 2015. Altogether, 10 armored vehicles have been brought to Kiev’s Borispol airport aboard a US Air Force military tactical freighter.

Source: US Embassy Kyiv

Uploaded by SamiGoat on 2015-04-01

Ankasina Evacuation Centre; Antananarivo, Madagascar, Mar 2015

Taken on 2015-03-25

Tropical Storm Chedza (Jan 14 - 22 2015) struck Madagascar after weeks of heavy rainfall, causing rivers to increase and flooding widespread areas of crop fields. In the capital city of Antananarivo, the deluge damaged the main water pump that controlled water levels in the region. The rainfall caused mudslides and damaged roads. Across the country, flooding from Chedza displaced 54,792 people, after destroying 4,430 houses and flooding another 3,442, mostly in Vatovavy-Fitovinany in the southeastern portion. Chedza killed 80 people and caused about $40 million in damage (2015 USD).Later, the storm brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to the mountainous peaks of Réunion. (see tropical storm Chedza Wikipedia page for more information). Featured in this photo report are scenes from the Ankasina Evacuation Centre in Antananarivo, run by the local Red Cross, with the support of the European Commission Humanitarian And and Civil Protection (ECHO). Floods have polluted water sources making access to clean drinking water a major need. Clean water is essential in preventing diseases.

Source: EU/ECHO/Maria Olsen / Flickr

Uploaded by RFrost on 2015-12-18

Syrian Government Re-Capture of Sheikh Helal, North Eastern Hama, Mar 2015

Taken on 2015-03-23

Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and National Defense Force (NDF) pose on the outskirts of Sheikh Helal village - North Eastern Hama - north of the town of Salamiyah after its re-capture from the Islamic State. This comes after heavy fighting in which various sources claim between 60-75 Pro-Syrian Government fighters were killed in a Islamic State offensive in Salamiyah and surrounding villages in the preceding days. This attack coincides with the Islamic State's goal of controlling the main route used by Syrian Government Forces to move supplies and reinforcements from Damascus to Aleppo and Northern Syria; and ongoing clashes in the Eastern Homs/North-Eastern Hama vicinity aimed at controlling the Shaer and Jazal oil fields.

Source: Al Assad Misyaf Network News/BosnjoBoy

Uploaded by mfa1988 on 2015-05-03

Devastation Caused by Cyclone Pam; Vanuatu, Mar 2015

Taken on 2015-03-14

The photographs depict the extensive damage sustained by the island nation of Vanuatu, in the Pacific Ocean, after it was struck by tropical cyclone Pam. The cyclone hit on the evening of 13 March 2015. Pam was classified as a category 5 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone scale and the Saffir–Simpson scale. The Guardian described it as the worst natural disasters to have ever been experienced by Vanuatu. Displayed is the devastation that was sustained and the images show uprooted trees, collapsed houses and damaged infrastructure. Estimates by the European Commission say that as much as 80% to 90% of the main island of Efate’s structures were completely or partially damaged. Major damage was also sustained by Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.

Source: DG/ECHO/UNICEF Pacific - Flickr

Uploaded by Alison Cooke on 2015-12-02

Islamic State Enters Captured Brigade 26 Iraqi Military Base , Tharthar - Iraq , Mar 2015

Taken on 2015-03-13

The photographs, which were publicized on March 13, show Islamic State fighters entering the headquarters of Brigade 26. Several photos display severely damaged or burning Humvees, while a number of other vehicles appear to have been abandoned by Iraqi Army personnel. The last photo in the set shows what appears to be more than a dozen Iraqi soldiers taken captive by the jihadist group. According to Al Jazeera, the Islamic State launched four attacks on the headquarters which left at least 30 Iraqi Army personnel dead and forty wounded. Thar Thar is a strategic area for both the Iraqi military and the Islamic State. Control of the region allows the Islamic State to move forces and supplies between eastern Anbar province and southern Salahaddin province. Additionally, the jihadist group has used the Thar Thar area to launch attacks against against Iraqi Security Forces and Shiite militias as they travel between Baghdad and Samarra, as well as the towns of Taji, Shabab, Dujail, Ishaqi.

Source: Islamic State (North Baghdad)/Longwarjournal

Uploaded by mfa1988 on 2015-05-09

Islamic State Propaganda on Destruction of Cultural Artifacts, Mosul Iraq, Feb 2015

Taken on 2015-02-26

Isis followers have released a propaganda film of sledge-hammer wielding militants destroying Assyrian and other historical artifacts in Mosul, Iraq. Many of the pieces attacked date back millennia. The pieces were largely taken from the Mosul Museum.

Source: IS Social Media via The Independent

Uploaded by SamiGoat on 2015-02-26

Oak Flat Copper Mining Conflict; Arizona, U.S., Feb-March 2015

Taken on 2015-03-18

About 100 miles north of Tucson, Resolution Copper Mining wants to build a mine in Superior, a town of 2,800 people, that could yield 1 billion pounds of copper a year. The land Resolution wants includes the 760-acre Oak Flat Withdrawal Area, which was deemed off-limits to future mining by a 1955 land order signed by President Dwight Eisenhower. The bill would overturn that order. The mine would devastate the surface of Oak Flat, an area sacred to Apache tribes. It’s an ancestral home for several clans of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, some of whom are protesting the development.

Uploaded by Taylor on 2015-07-28

Qamislo Martyrs Cemetery for Kurdish (YPG/YPJ) Fighters; Syria, 2014

Taken on 2014-12-05

Qamislo cemetery for YPG/YPJ fighters killed fighting ISIS.

Source: Janet Biehl/Flickr

Uploaded by parkinth on 2016-05-10

Mexico's Palacio Nacional Attacked by Protesters, November 2014

Taken on 2014-11-09

A group of protesters set fire to the wooden door of the ceremonial Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, denouncing the apparent massacre of 43 trainee teachers in Guerero State. The massacre was allegedly conducted by cartel forces under government direction and politician José Luis Abarca has been arrested. (Please see Imgur copyright policy).

Source: pepemigala/Imgur

Uploaded by SamiGoat on 2014-11-11

Protests over missing Mexican students; Iguala, Mexico, Oct-Dec 2014

Taken on 2014-12-18

Thousands protest after 43 students disappeared in Iguala, Mexico. Officials say they were handed over by authorities to a local drug gang. This is an example of the larger problem of the impunity regarding numerous enforced disappearances. Mexico's Attorney General stated there is no doubt that the 43 students were murdered and their remains incinerated and dumped into a river in the nearby town of Cocula.

Source: Wikipedia, Voice of America, Global Voices

Uploaded by Taylor on 2015-06-26

Hong Kong Occupy Protesters Face Police Teargas, September 2014

Taken on 2014-09-29

Hong Kong Occupy protesters have used an array of masks and umbrellas to deflect police teargas.

Source: VOA Cantonese

Uploaded by SamiGoat on 2014-10-02

UN Climate Change Summit in New York, September 2014

Taken on 2014-09-24

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hosted the Climate Summit 2014 at UN headquarters in New York on 23 September. In inviting world leaders, from government, finance, business, and civil society, the Secretary-General asked them to bring bold announcements and actions to the Summit that will reduce emissions, strengthen climate resilience, and mobilize political will for a meaningful legal agreement in 2015.

Source: UN Photo

Uploaded by SamiGoat on 2014-10-03