Images from our impact around the world ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌







See our top 10 photos of 2023 ▸

Dear friend,

As Mercy Corps Director of Global Photography, I have the privilege of meeting and hearing the stories of so many people in some of the most complicated situations around the world.

This year was no different. The war in Ukraine continued into its second year, climate change wreaked havoc in communities across the globe, and in the Middle East — where I live — conflict and disaster have claimed the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people.

The photos from 2023 capture a moment in time, often in places that are in the midst of crisis, reflecting the human side of conflict and climate change. They illustrate the priorities, needs, and dreams that we all share — for our families to be safe, to have enough to eat, to have clean water to drink, and most of all, peace.

Below I wanted to share the stories of two of my favorite photos from 2023. For more photos and stories of impact from across the globe, read my recent web article.
See the top 10 photos ▸
   
   
     
Mahamad in Ethiopia
 
Mahamad is a teacher in Shabelle, Ethiopia, where many of his students walk an hour from home to attend school. He welcomed us into the classroom with great pride and was excited to show us his work. He teaches his students about health, sanitation, and nutrition, as part of a Mercy Corps school health and nutrition club program.

Classrooms are one of my favorite places to photograph. There is often a tangible energy, visible connections between students and teachers, and particularly in East Africa, bright colorful uniforms that offer a dynamic palette. Mahamad’s expression tells us all we need to know about his relationship to his work and his students.
 
   
   
     
Khloud and Aheda in Jordan
 
Kholoud (left), and her colleague, Aheda, inspect cheese that is ripening in an ancient Roman cave beneath the Formajo cheese company in Karak, Jordan. Kholoud began working at the company in 2018 to help support her family after her husband fell sick. She was trained by the Habibi Valtiberina Association, which received a grant from Mercy Corps to support their social business enterprise.

It was a hot summer day in Jordan; walking through an unremarkable door, down a flight of stairs, and into a thousand-year-old Roman cave felt like stepping back in time. The repeating shapes and dramatic lighting were a photographer’s playground. And the cheese was delicious!
 
Mercy Corps’ work in Ethiopia, Jordan, and 40+ countries is made possible, in part, by the generous support of people like you. Thank you for your continued compassion for the people in these pictures and the more than 29 million people we have reached this year.

I hope you enjoy some of my favorite photos and the stories they help tell.

Wishing you health and happiness in 2024,

Ezra Millstein
Director of Global Photography
Mercy Corps