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“She loves animals and animals love her. Look at “She loves animals and animals love her. Look at her and the cat. They are very relaxed with each other.” ♥️ We went to visit family of Raed and Ikram (parents of Myra) in Lebanon. The father works in a hotel nearby, earning just enough to survive with the family. 👮‍♀️ While we were drinking tea the police arrived. Very curious about us of course. More so about when the family would leave. Leave? Where to? The police officer gave the family one week to leave. Why? Because they live in an abandoned house for which they don’t pay rent. So every week when the police officer comes they give some money to him 😰 Imagine earning very little and having to give half to a police officer for living in an abandoned house. .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #lebanon #asylumseekers #charity #chooselove #housing #documentaryphotography #vluchtelingen #refugees #syrianrefugees #giving #helpingothers #humanrights #kindness #nonprofit #people #periodpoverty #periods #refugees #refugeescrisis #refugeeswelcome #leavenoonebehind #socialgood #standwithrefugees #supportrefugees #syrianrefugees #unhcr #volunteering #welcomerefugees #withrefugees
Almost 40% of doctors and 30% of nurses have left Almost 40% of doctors and 30% of nurses have left #Lebanon either temporarily or permanently. The WHO said that Lebanon’s brain drain is a threat to its health sector. Amid the pandemic and economic meltdown, doctors in Lebanon are lured away by the hope of better salaries and a future. An estimated 1,000 medical professionals have left since the August 2020 blast. People with cancer are waiting for medicine and hospitals do not have enough doctors to attend the patients. A health crisis within a crisis. Especially for the refugees as they do not have valid residency permit thus no access to healthcare. Therefore the work of @emalebanon is so so important. They have a doctor doing home visits, a dentist where people can go to and volunteers who visit the camps with a mobile health clinic. Let’s not forget refugees are humans too. Humans who need a house, food and healthcare ♥️ ⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #everydayrefugees #helprefugees #migration #refugeesolidarity #photojournalism #refugeescrisis #refugeesupport #givingback #portraitphotographer #withrefugees #welcomerefugees #equality #humanity #socialimpact #refugeestory #refugeesstories #istandwithrefugees #photogram #standwithrefugees #photography #refugeestories #refugees #migrants #refugeeswelcome #peace #photographerslife #humanrights #refugeeslivesmatter
Why I became a photographer 📸 I wanted to be Why I became a photographer 📸 I wanted to be many things when I was young. From a spice girl to princess and from world champion in gymnastics to being the lead singer in a rock band. I wanted to become a writer and wrote many stories (non published), just because I didn’t want to disappear. I wanted my name to always be there long after my face would’ve been forgotten. Surprisingly I became none of those things. 🌙 Instead I became a photographer. That didn’t happen overnight. Neither did it happen in a morning, not even a full day. I had to work a lot for it and find my way. 🎈 I was always the one with the (disposable) camera. Photographed many birthday parties, club nights and festivals. As I often lacked words to express myself (which is a wonder because I talk a lot) I used my camera. 💭 It took me a while to know what type of photographer I wanted to be and now and then I’m still not sure. 📷 But then I remember: I became a photographer to tell stories that often are forgotten or overlooked. I want to capture life as it is now so it will never truly disappear. And I knew now that it wasn’t about my name or face being forgotten but the stories and people that truly matter. People who do not have the ways that I have to make themselves heard. 📸 Photographing helps me to tell their story. Stories of people who are silenced or not listened to because of whatever ridiculous reason. I hope their stories and messages come across via my photos ♥️ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #photography #photographersofinstagram #reportage #streetphotographers #contemporaryphotography #photographers #photographersofig #photographer #portraitphotographer #photodocumentary #lifestylephotographer #streetphotographer #photo #picoftheday #lensculture #portraitphotography #photographerlife #photographersgallery #influencerphotographer #photojournalist #socialdocumentary #photojournalism #lifethroughmylens #socialdocumentaryphotography #photographersgram #magnumphotos #reportagespotlight #photoshoot #fujifilm #documentaryphotography
I think we should stop calling all things a humani I think we should stop calling all things a humanitarian crisis. In Yemen there is no humanitarian crisis there is hunger. In Syria there is no humanitarian crisis there is a war. In Sudan and Ethiopia it’s not a humanitarian crisis that creates refugees, it’s mass killings. We don’t talk about a humanitarian crisis when we talk about the Holocaust, we talk about genocide. So why calling everything the same when it’s not. Let’s call it what it is: war, murder, oppression, hunger, climate change, mass killings, genocide, ethnic cleansing and so on. Share if you agree 👍🏼 .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #immigrantswelcomehere #immigrantsrightsarehumanrights #nationofimmigrants #immigrantstory #withimmigrants #immigrantsstory #refugees #immigrantsandrefugeeswelcome #immigrantsunite #humanitariancrisis #humanitarianaid #immigrantstruggles #humanitarianism #immigrantsong #immigrantswelcome #istandwithimmigrants #photographylovers #immigrantsmarch #lebanon_pictures #immigrantsbuiltthiscountry #immigrantsarenottheenemy #immigrantstories #humanitariancrisissimulation #humanitariancrisissupport #humanitariancrisisng #immigrantsrights #humanity #people #refugeeswelcome
There are about 1.5 million Syrian refugees living There are about 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in Lebanon. (Population Lebanon is about 5.9 million people). 👩‍🏫 Education 55% of the Syrian refugees is between 0-17 years old and 60% of the kids is not going to school. School is often too expensive. There are some NGO’s trying to provide education but that’s not nearly enough. ⛺️ Housing Most Syrian refugees rent apartments, partly due to the absence of formal refugee camps. More than 80% of them rent accommodation at an average price of $200 a month (now with the hyperinflation that’s about $30,-) The rest of them – who's percentage keeps increasing due to the deepening vulnerability – settled in unfinished buildings, garages, abandoned sheds, work sites and tents in informal settlements. 🧑🏽‍🌾 Work Syrians are officially not allowed to work because they don’t have a legal permit. But they also don’t get any help from the government. Thus, to pay for food and housing they need to work. I spoke to a lawyer who worked on a farm now, a mechanic who now cleans rooms in a hotel and a doctor who sold veggies at the market. That’s the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, in short. The people can’t travel but are dreaming of a better life for their kids thus make plans to go elsewhere. I can’t blame them, can you? Don’t forget to share this post and create more awareness about the dire situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #photographersofig #everydayrefugees #helprefugees #migration #refugeesolidarity #photojournalism #refugeescrisis #refugeesupport #givingback #portraitphotographer #withrefugees #welcomerefugees #equality #humanity #socialimpact #refugeestory #refugeesstories #istandwithrefugees #photogram #standwithrefugees #photography #refugeestories #refugees #Syria #refugeeswelcome #peace #photographerslife #humanrights #refugeeslivesmatter
💔Wow there is so much going on in Lebanon I don 💔Wow there is so much going on in Lebanon I don’t even know where to begin. 1️⃣ Hyperinflation! Due to a hyperinflation prices increased 10 times, however the people earn 10 times less. Thus there is no money to buy bread, water, fuel. The UN warns that 80% of households in Lebanon do not have enough money to buy food. 2️⃣ Electricity! The government of Lebanon provides only 4 hours of electricity per day. The other hours people have to find electricity for themselves. Which they do with generators. However there is a lack of diesel. For 10 hours people are waiting in front of gas stations to get themselves some diesel. 3️⃣ Medicine! As Lebanon imports most of the medicine it now has a problem of buying because of the hyperinflation. Hospitals are already burdened by the lack of electricity and now also the shortage of medicine. 4️⃣ Refugees! Lebanon has about 1.5 million refugees. That’s 1.5 million mouths extra to feed. Many of those people live in horrible and inhumane circumstances. They earn a lot less than the Lebanese people and also lack a safety net. The UNHCR is not allowed to operate in Lebanon, therefor these people suffer even more from the economic crisis. 😩 Almost 3/4 of the Lebanese people are living in poverty. And this is only part of what’s going on… Share this post and raise awareness 💗 On assignment for @kooyrigs .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #talkaboutlebanon #justiceforlebanon #lebanontimes #photographer #photographersgram #humanitarianaid #community #photographersofig #whatsuplebanon #humanrights #lebanonblast #photographerslife #humanity #homeless #beirutlebanon #lebanon_pictures #charity #photography #amazinglebanon #impactlebanon #travel #prayforlebanon #givingback #humanitariancrisis #lebanonexplosion #lebanon #helplebanon #humanitarian
You built a life and then you lose everything agai You built a life and then you lose everything again. Either due to a war in a neighbouring country or a revolution in your own. Either due to a blast destroying part of the city or a civil war making your entire city a battle ground. “I had a car shop, I had eleven cars. Imported mostly from Germany and Belgium. But then one bomb was dropped on my company and all was destroyed. I had nothing anymore.” “I was here during the war in the 70’s, in the 90’s, a couple of years ago. But this, what happens now, it’s worse. I’m hungry, my children are hungry, whole Lebanon is hungry. We continue because we know we have to, because we know we did before. But for how long?” .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #talkaboutlebanon #justiceforlebanon #lebanontimes #photographer #photographersgram #humanitarianaid #community #photographersofig #whatsuplebanon #humanrights #lebanonblast #photographerslife #humanity #homeless #beirutlebanon #lebanon_pictures #charity #photography #amazinglebanon #impactlebanon #travel #prayforlebanon #givingback #humanitariancrisis #lebanonexplosion #lebanon #helplebanon #humanitarian #arab #architecture
“We have about 1.000 patients a day. Due to a fu “We have about 1.000 patients a day. Due to a fuel shortage we don’t have enough medicine to hand out. And imagine what an electricity shortage does to a centre where 1.000 people a day come.” Yesterday I visited the @karagheusianassociation to deliver medicine with @kooyrigs. This center offers medical help for free to people in need. Refugees, migrants and locals alike come here to find help. With the financial crisis they see an increase in patients. Soldiers who once earned about 1.000 dollar a month (enough to sustain) are now earning 70 dollars a month due to the hyperinflation that Lebanon experiences now. There is not enough money for food let alone for a doctor. People are hungry, are scared. Tripoli (North Lebanon) is without electricity and internet already. What happens when the people of Beirut are without electricity? What will happen to the patients in the hospital? A tragedy is unfolding here in Lebanon. One year after the explosion, two years after the revolution started. Another year, another crisis 😢 Help me spread the dire situation in Lebanon and share this post ♥️ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #lebanon_pictures #helplebanon #giveback #humanrights #nikonphotography #lebanon #beirutlebanon #socialgood #equality #humanitarianaid #lebanontimes #humanity #humanitarianism #lebanonspotlights #protecthumanrights #refugeeslivesmatter #charitywork #justiceforlebanon #talkaboutlebanon #refugees #lebanonblast #impactlebanon #community #photography #nonprofitcharity #support #prayforlebanon🇱🇧 #humanitariancrisis
In this photo I was chatting with women at an Arme In this photo I was chatting with women at an Armenian cemetery trying to sell homemade stuff to tourists (of course I bought some). They are having a hard time. The men often died in a war, so they now have to provide their own income, because a good safety net as we know in the Netherlands is often not available here. I am now in Lebanon where I will document the work of an Armenian NGO. They hand out menstrual pads and medicines to women in shelters here. Many of these women are widowed, abused, mistreated. Some came to Lebanon as refugees, others to work. The next few days are going to be tough, but I'm so glad I get to spend my time listening to these brave women. May I capture and spread their stories in the hope that we can learn from them ♥️ If there is anything you’d like to know drop your question in the comments 👇🏼 .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #humanitariancrisis #nikonphotography #strongwomen #photographylovers #photography #ngo #prayforlebanon #lebanontimes #humanitarianism #humanitarianaid #supportwomen #allwomenarebeautiful #nongovernmentalorganization #contentphotography #humanitarian #womeninpower #motivation #lebanon_pictures #lebanon #amazinglebanon #impactlebanon #women #ngophotography #beirutlebanon #helpingothers #womenempowering
“We keep being promised new apartments but nothi “We keep being promised new apartments but nothing happens. The only time the government shows any interest in us is when they want our votes.” The people living in the sanatoriums of Tskaltubo for nearly 30 years got letters from the government. They will be relocated to homes any time soon. Some will stay in Tskaltubo, others will move to Kutaisi or even further. “We have built a community here. That’s what I will miss the most. We have to start all over again. And we are old… it’s tiresome.” 🌍 Internally displaced vs seeking refuge abroad. When people are displaced in their own country they are called ‘IDP’s’ (Internally Displaced People). The difference with refugees is that IDPs are under the protection of their own government, even if that government is the reason for their displacement. Whereas people seeking refuge abroad fall under the care and protection of the UNHCR. That means they are able to access funding and resources of the UN. Their lives are difficult but they do have some protections, often have access to camps built to provide shelter, and with food. Internally Displaced People are not protected under the UN and are often forgotten. They do not have access to UN funds, are often at high risk of physical attack, sexual assault and abduction. They are also frequently deprived of adequate shelter, food and health services. 💵 You can imagine that for many countries it is best when people seek refuge internally instead of fleeing abroad. So it won’t cost them too much. In the end it’s often about money, not people. ⁣Did you know about the difference? Or is this new to you? Drop your questions (or knowledge about this) in the comments ♥️ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #displaced #everydayrefugees #helprefugees #migration #refugeesolidarity #photojournalism #refugeescrisis #refugeesupport #givingback #portraitphotographer #withrefugees #welcomerefugees #unhcr #humanity #socialimpact #refugeestory #refugeesstories #istandwithrefugees #photogram #standwithrefugees #photography #refugeestories #refugees #migrants #refugeeswelcome #internallydisplacedpeople #photographerslife #humanrights #refugeeslivesmatter
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Copyright by Milene van Arendonk | 2020 - 2021