donderdag, juni 19, 2003
Though tribal fighting has raged in the Congo for the past five years, killing as many as 4.7 million people, the Western media is only now awakening to the humanitarian crisis going on in the troubled African nation. The reason for the interest, photographers say, is the UN mandate authorizing a multinational peacekeeping force.
In the past few weeks, Getty Images staff photographer Spencer Platt and Evelyn Hockstein, a freelancer represented by Polaris, descended on Bunia to cover the peacekeeping mission. Both say the situation warrants attention no matter who intervenes. "There’s a lot happening here and sometimes the western market doesn’t cover Africa as much as they should," says Hockstein.
Platt says in many ways the conflict in the Congo is more dangerous for journalists. Children and teenagers have been pulled from their homes, given guns and are being forced to fight. Many of the soldiers are either drunk or high on drugs. Both photographers say they can never feel completely safe around them.
Platt urges photographers planning to cover the conflict to come well-prepared. Photographers can buy food, beer and whisky easily enough, but bottled water is nowhere to be found. Towards the end of his stay Platt had to ration his water supply to a liter a day.
The situation is so dangerous, photographers haven’t been able to investigate rumors of genocide in cities outside the capital. Despite the hardships inflicted on the people of Congo, Platt and Hockstein both say the locals were open and friendly and generally welcoming of their presence. "In Africa there are so many horror stories, but the people are so friendly and open," Hockstein says.
Bron: PDN.
In the past few weeks, Getty Images staff photographer Spencer Platt and Evelyn Hockstein, a freelancer represented by Polaris, descended on Bunia to cover the peacekeeping mission. Both say the situation warrants attention no matter who intervenes. "There’s a lot happening here and sometimes the western market doesn’t cover Africa as much as they should," says Hockstein.
Platt says in many ways the conflict in the Congo is more dangerous for journalists. Children and teenagers have been pulled from their homes, given guns and are being forced to fight. Many of the soldiers are either drunk or high on drugs. Both photographers say they can never feel completely safe around them.
Platt urges photographers planning to cover the conflict to come well-prepared. Photographers can buy food, beer and whisky easily enough, but bottled water is nowhere to be found. Towards the end of his stay Platt had to ration his water supply to a liter a day.
The situation is so dangerous, photographers haven’t been able to investigate rumors of genocide in cities outside the capital. Despite the hardships inflicted on the people of Congo, Platt and Hockstein both say the locals were open and friendly and generally welcoming of their presence. "In Africa there are so many horror stories, but the people are so friendly and open," Hockstein says.
Bron: PDN.
# posted by Jan-Edward : 02:32
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