The winner of the Oskar Barnack Award 2011, Jan Grarup, has been covering the situation in Somalia for more than 20 years now, possibly making it one of the longest-standing photographic projects documenting human conditions of our time

Despite the coming and going media interest of the situation in Somalia, Jan Grarup has continiously visited the region again and again to cover stories.

How photographers can change the course of events
When no news media wanted to cover the story, Jan Grarup was still very aware of the situation and wanted to cover it. And when the media saw his photo stories, they actually did want to cover it. Denmark's largest newspaper did a special section to their Sunday edition, solely covering the Somalia situation, complete with large full-page photos by Jan Grarup.

 

Help Jan Grarup help you to help Somalia

Traditionally, news media has commisioned photographers to go cover stories the media wanted to focus on. With a weaker and weaker media scene, budgets to cover stories around the world have slumped and many simply stay with stories they can afford.

Jan Grarup doesn't ask for donations and doesn't believe in crowd-funding. He believes in taking important images and selling them to you, and to the media. That's how he funds his continued and exspensive coverage of the situation in Somalia.

He offers these three limited, numbered and signed prints for you to buy. Order here:

Mogadishu - Somalia 2012 - A patient receiving treatment for his mental disorder at Dr. Habeb's clinic hides under the mosquito net. © 2012 Jan Grarup

Mogadishu - Somalia 2012 - Close to the Mogadishu airport an old russian Ilyshin IL76 cargo plane lies scattered in the streets; while a small school on the other side of the road is being rebuilt. The plane crashed when it was hit by Al-Shabaab anti-aircraft fire. Eleven people were killed in the crash. © 2012 Jan Grarup

A young man carries a shark to the city’s fish market to be cleaned and sold after a morning fishing trip. With piracy a growing issue in the seas, no Western fisherman risk entering the surrounding Indian Ocean, leaving it abundant with sharks and other sea creatures.

 

	Somalia Print "Shark" Edition 300 pcs (few left)		Mogadishu Plane Crash Edition 50 pcs		Mogadishu Mental Clinic Edition 50 pcs
	A young man carries a shark to the city’s fish market to be cleaned and sold after a morning fishing trip. With piracy a growing issue in the seas, no Western fisherman risk entering the surrounding Indian Ocean, leaving it abundant with sharks and other sea creatures.		Mogadishu - Somalia 2012 - Close to the Mogadishu airport an old russian Ilyshin IL76 cargo plane lies scattered in the streets while a small school on the other side of the road is being rebuilt. The plane crashed when it was hit by Al-Shabaab anti-aircraft fire. Eleven people were killed in the crash.		Mogadishu - Somalia 2012 - A patient receiving treatment for his mental disorder at Dr. Habeb's clinic hides under the mosquito net.
	Print size 30x40 cm Few left 150 €		Print size 30x40 cm 150 €		Print size 30x40 cm 150 €
			Print size 50x60 cm 250 €		Print size 50x60 cm 250 €

For other donations and payments, use: Nordea Bank, Reg. No. 5501, Account no. 5013020014
SWIFT-code: NDEADKKK, IBAN DK 882 000 5013 02 00 14, Beneficia: Jan Grarup

 

Here is what Jan Grarup has to say about the project:

"As you know I have been working on and off in Somalia and the horn of Africa on my project called 'Caught Between War and Famine' telling a very (large) story about 22 years of war and hunger. I have covered very large, large  parts of the country – all the way from Bosasso in the North to Mogadishu in the South, as well as the fragile border regions."

"It is difficult, very dangerous and hence very expensive to travel in this area. Even more difficult and dangerous are the pirates in Puntland who are right now, holding many foreigners captive for ransom. Through my contacts in the country, I have gotten in contact with the leaders of one of the groups of pirates, and I am travelling there to document the life of the hostages as well as the life of the pirates.

"As all of you can imagine it is very difficult - and the risk of them taking me as a hostage as well, is highly present. For that reason my contacts in Mogadishu say we need to bring our own guards from Mogadishu, since we cannot trust local militias.

"I sincerely hope some of you understand and will support the project - It might be a new way for us to help each other to produce high quality photojournalism.

If anyone would like to get more information - I can be contacted via mail at noorimages.com

"Best regards and thanks for the support!"

For more on this, read the story The Mayor of Mogadishu in Photo District News.