Palestinian and Israeli Photographers Collaboratively Secure 2024 UNICEF Photo of the Year Award

### UNICEF Photo of the Year: An Impactful View into Children’s Lives During Global Crises

For 25 years, the UNICEF Photo of the Year accolade has illuminated the tenacity, suffering, and fortitude of children enduring remarkably harsh circumstances worldwide. Awarded annually by the German National Committee for UNICEF, this esteemed recognition celebrates photographers who go beyond artistic limits to capture the profound narratives of children in distress. In 2024, marking a first in the award’s legacy, two photographers received the highest honor, drawing attention to the intertwined tragedies of the Israel-Palestine conflict through striking, unforgettable imagery.

This significant move to present dual first prizes underscores not only the tremendous influence of the photographs but also the crucial need to recognize the experiences of individuals impacted on both sides of a deeply rooted conflict.

—

### **Two Arresting First-Prize Portraits from Israel and Palestine**

**Avishag Shaar-Yashuv (Israel): “Stav’s Loss”**

Israeli photographer Avishag Shaar-Yashuv portrayed eight-year-old Stav, a survivor of a Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Captured in a hotel providing emergency refuge for victims, the portrait reveals Stav’s fragility and profound sorrow. His somber visage, depicted with heartbreaking clarity, acts as a “window into his soul,” perjury chairman Klaus Honnef. Stav’s countenance reflects the loss of childhood innocence and the deep emotional scars endured by Israeli children exposed to unspeakable brutality.

**Samar Abu Elouf (Palestine): “Orphans of Gaza”**

Conversely, Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf provided a heart-wrenching insight into Gaza’s devastation. Her award-winning photo features Dareen, 11, alongside her five-year-old brother Kinan—the only survivors of an Israeli airstrike that annihilated their entire family. Taken in a hospital in Qatar, the image evokes a sense of dignified resilience amidst overwhelming grief. The composition alludes to classical art, yet addresses starkly contemporary issues—a poignant reminder of the human toll of warfare.

The jury praised both works for their exceptional power to provoke contemplation. “Both images leave you speechless and provoke thought,” Honnef remarked. “We can scarcely fathom the hardships these children have faced, yet their serene and poised expressions narrate tales of incredible endurance.”

—

### **Global Crises in Focus: Notable Second and Third Prize Entries**

**Pascal Maitre (France): “Mpox Epidemic in the Congo”**

French photojournalist Pascal Maitre earned second prize for his striking depiction of the mpox epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His photograph of seven-month-old Japhet, whose skin is marked by painful blisters, draws attention to a forgotten crisis ravaging vulnerable communities lacking medical resources. Capturing both Japhet’s plight and his mother’s strength, the image emphasizes the critical necessity for fair vaccine distribution to combat preventable ailments.

**Maylis Rolland (France): “The Fragility of Premature Lives”**

The third prize was awarded to Maylis Rolland for her sensitive portrayal of premature infants’ battles at the Rennes University Hospital in France. One evocative photograph features the tiny Gabin, born at 25 weeks, gently touching his mother’s face while equipped with a breathing apparatus. The image encapsulates both the wonders of modern medicine and the lasting emotional connection between parent and child. Rolland’s collection highlights the global increase in premature births and their life-changing effects, particularly in nations lacking advanced neonatal facilities.

—

### **Honorable Mentions: Tales of Resilience from Around the Globe**

This year’s UNICEF Photo of the Year recognized seven photographers with Honorable Mentions, each capturing distinct and captivating insights into the lives of children facing adversities ranging from warfare to societal struggles:

1. **Saher Alghorra (Palestine): “Children of War”**
Through haunting visuals of Gaza’s youngest inhabitants, Saher Alghorra portrays profound loss while revealing glimmers of hope. From children grieving their parents to those anxiously awaiting sustenance, his images underscore our collective responsibility to safeguard the innocent.

2. **Ivor Prickett (Ireland): “Famine and War in Sudan”**
Prickett documents the nutrition crisis in Sudan, where 730,000 children face life-threatening starvation amid a conflict that weaponizes food shortages. His visuals demand urgent global awareness of this neglected humanitarian tragedy.

3. **Ziv Koren (Israel): “A Family’s Survival”**
Koren presents an emotional photo essay chronicling an Israeli family harmed in a Hamas assault. From hospital environments to the remains of their scorched home, the series illustrates survival as a testament to daily resilience.

4. **Jérôme Gence (France): “The Screen Generation”**
In a poignant critique of contemporary behavior, Gence captured children contending with excessive smartphone dependency.