PHOTOS: Ezidi IDPs have nothing but give everything

author_image Sangar Ali
I went to photograph displaced Yezidi (Ezidi) people in Erbil near Ankawa, and thought they would deny me, but they surprised me, said a Kurdistan24 photographer on Saturday.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – I went to photograph displaced Yezidi (Ezidi) people in Erbil near Ankawa, and thought they would deny me, but they surprised me, said a Kurdistan24 photographer on Saturday.

Alexandre Afonso is a Portuguese photographer working for Kurdistan24, who has been living in the Kurdistan Region for the last few months.

Recently, he went to take photographs of 20 displaced Kurdish Ezidi families that currently live in an area near the Ankawa district of Erbil.

“I wanted to take photos of them, show the livelihood of people who are internally displaced, but I was a bit skeptic about that,” said Afonso.

He stated that many internally displaced persons (IDPs) did not want photographers to take photos of them. As a result, he was not sure that he was making the right decision, but he insisted.

The 20 Ezidi families have been living there for almost two years. They fled from Sinjar (Shingal) in the west of Mosul after the city was occupied by the Islamic State (IS).

On Nov. 14, 2015, Peshmerga forces liberated Shingal with the support of the international coalition warplanes.

“I approached the families and started to take photos of [their] kids first,” Afonso continued. “I was happy to see a [positive] reaction on the face of the children and their parents.”

He mentioned that photographs was all he wanted from the Ezidi families, but was surprised after he started to approach them.

“They are displaced from their hometown, they have nothing, but yet were offering me everything they had, including tea, food and fruits with a big smile on their face,” Afonso concluded.

 

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany
Photos by Alexandre Afonso

20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
20 Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) families displaced and reside near Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region. June 24, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)