Moments captured from recovery to resilience, in Ukraine, Kenya, Indonesia, and more ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌







Dear friend,

For our photography team, 2022 was a record setting year, as we documented Mercy Corps’ impact in more countries than ever before. As our Senior Global Photographer, I’m proud of the breadth and power of the stories we shared with the Mercy Corps community.

As world events unfolded — from the war in Ukraine to the recent earthquake in Indonesia — I rushed to the front lines of conflicts and disasters to document Mercy Corps’ urgent responses. I also spent time in places like Colombia, Syria, and Afghanistan, meeting people who are powering possibilities with the support of Mercy Corps.
See the top 10 photos ▸
9-year-old Ali washes his hands with clean water from a water tank, powered by new solar panels installed with support from Mercy Corps.
As I sifted through the many extraordinary photos from 2022 to select the top ten, it struck me that each tells two stories: one of hardship and one of hope. The circumstances of the photos are some of the most dire in the world, yet the people I met are determined in the face of those challenges to create change for themselves and their communities.

In Syria, families are facing ongoing conflict, economic collapse, and drought. Essential infrastructure, like the water supply system, is damaged or failing, making it difficult for families to get clean water, grow food, and sustain their livelihoods.

In cooperation with one community in Northeast Syria, Mercy Corps installed solar panels at the village water tank, providing a dependable source of power, and drastically improving water access for the entire town. In the photograph above, a young boy washes his hands with this reliable source of clean water — a manifestation of collaboration and progress toward a brighter future.

I’m honored to have had a front row seat to Mercy Corps’ work this year, and the opportunity to share these images of strength and the possibility of a better future in this year’s top 10 photos. I hope you enjoy seeing some of the ways your support can help improve livelihoods across the globe.

Wishing you health and happiness in 2023,

Ezra Millstein Ezra Millstein
Mercy Corps Senior Global Photographer

Ezra is a passionate photographer and filmmaker who is dedicated to sharing the stories of people impacted by Mercy Corps programs around the world. His colorful images have been described as the palette of our organization, and his visual storytelling shares the heart of our work.