WESTERN SAHARA LANDMINES: Documentary Photography From The African Desert By Paulo Nunes dos Santos At GAIA Photos

A landmine victim outside a medical center near Rabouni refugee camp

in the desert region of Western Sahara Africa.

Photo © Paulo Nunes dos Santos All Rights Reserved - Follow Me On Twitter

Western Sahara: The Desert Of Landmines is a feature story by Ireland's Paulo Nunes dos Santos now appearing on Gaia Photos.

As photojournalist Paulo Nunes dos Santos explains, "Sixteen years of fighting between Moroccan and Polisario forces, from 1975-1991, has left Western Sahara contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). During the conflict Morocco constructed a 2500 km defensive wall, known as the Berm."

Further, Paulo Nunes dos Santos says, "Landmine and ERW contamination hinders safe movement throughout Western Sahara for the local population and United Nations observers. Landmine Action has documented instances of mine laying along roads and tracks and at water points. As long as this state of affairs persists, nearly 200,000 Saharawi refugees currently residing in camps located in Algeria will be unable to return safely to Western Sahara and the conflict will remain frozen."

Paulo Nunes dos Santos visited the desert region of Western Sahara Africa and shares the legacy of unexploded ordnance UXO in his photo essay Western Sahara: The Desert Of Landmines, now appearing on Gaia Photos, a new international photography source of nearly 60 photojournalists from around the world whose mission is to promote quality and diversity in documentary photography.

PLEASE LEARN MORE ABOUT Explosive Remnants of War, Cluster Munitions and Disarmament

Please visit us and see other photo stories on Gaia Photos by Paulo Nunes dos Santos. You can also search Gaia Photos for assignment photographers and subscribe to our continually updated new features page too!

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Documentary Photography From The Western Sahara Now On Gaia Photos: The Forgotten People By Paulo Nunes dos Santos

Saharawi men racing camels during the FISAHARA festival in Dajla.

Photo © Paulo Nunes dos Santos All Rights Reserved

Western Sahara: The Forgotten People is a feature story by Ireland 's Paulo Nunes dos Santos now appearing on Gaia Photos.

As photojournalist Paulo Nunes dos Santos explains, "As soon as the Moroccan occupation of the Western Sahara started and the vicious and bloody war diffused, nearly 200,000 Saharawis made their way across the desert under aerial bombardment to refugee camps in Algeria. Five camps were created under the control of the Polisario Front."

Further, Paulo Nunes dos Santos recounts, "Stories of war, exile and fear can be heard from most of the refugees one encounters in the camps, however feelings of hope and prosperity seems unanimous amongst all. The certainty of going back one day to their homeland to resume their traditional nomadic life characterizes the Saharawi people, a group long forgotten by the rest of the world."

Paulo Nunes dos Santos visited Rabouni refugee camp in Africa and shares the story of the Saharawi people in his photo essay Western Sahara: The Forgotten People, now appearing on Gaia Photos, a new international photography source comprised of 48 photojournalists from around the world whose mission is to promote quality and diversity in documentary photography.

Please visit us and see other photo stories on Gaia Photos by Paulo Nunes dos Santos. You can also search Gaia Photos for assignment photographers and subscribe to our continually updated new features page too!

New Facebook Fan Page

Gaia Photos now has a new Facebook Fan Page. If you are using Facebook, you can sign up and you'll get new features served on your Facebook wall automatically.

John Brown Photojournalist On LIGHTSTALKERS
My Mondo Library Photography
My Photoshelter Photography Archive Homepage
GAIA Photography and Photojournalism