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World

The female face of war

Photojournalist Jonathan Alpeyrie has documented the plight of women, their struggle and survival in war and conflict zones around the world, from the Middle East and North Africa to the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

  • A battalion of female soldiers gather in central Kathmandu, Nepal, during a departure ceremony in February 2005. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Also women's work

    A battalion of female soldiers gather in central Kathmandu, Nepal, during a departure ceremony in February 2005.

  • Crack addict in Rio de Janeiro (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Grip of drugs

    It is estimated that over 300,000 addicts live on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. While most use crack, addicts can also get their hands on heroin.

  • A Syrian family runs toward the Turkish border with the help of local fighters. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Nighttime flight

    A Syrian family runs toward the Turkish border with the help of local fighters as President Bashar Assad's troops try to finish off the rebellion against his regime in March 2012.

  • Local women in western Mosul climb onto a truck to flee the combat zone as Iraqi forces battle the Islamic State militants in March 2017. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Way out

    Local women in western Mosul climb onto a truck to flee the combat zone as Iraqi forces battle the "Islamic State" militants in March 2017.

  • Women mourn four separatists who died in fighting against the Ukrainian army in August 2014. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Final good-bye

    Women mourn four separatists who died in fighting against the Ukrainian army in August 2014. The men were buried in the village they came from south of Donetsk, near the front lines.

  • Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) rebels regroup in northern Kenya in February 2006. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Independence fighter

    Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) rebels regroup in northern Kenya in February 2006. The OLF was formed in 1973 by members of Ethiopia's largest ethnic group to fight for independence. The OLF was legalized in 2018 but has since splintered.

  • A woman stands in front of a bombed-out house in February 2015 in the besieged city of Debaltseve in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Last woman standing

    A woman stands in front of a bombed-out house in February 2015. Thousands of civilians were trapped inside the besieged city of Debaltseve, a railway hub that was hotly contested by both pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces. Hundreds were killed in the monthlong battle in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine.


  • A battalion of female soldiers gather in central Kathmandu, Nepal, during a departure ceremony in February 2005. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Also women's work

    A battalion of female soldiers gather in central Kathmandu, Nepal, during a departure ceremony in February 2005.

  • Crack addict in Rio de Janeiro (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Grip of drugs

    It is estimated that over 300,000 addicts live on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. While most use crack, addicts can also get their hands on heroin.

  • A Syrian family runs toward the Turkish border with the help of local fighters. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Nighttime flight

    A Syrian family runs toward the Turkish border with the help of local fighters as President Bashar Assad's troops try to finish off the rebellion against his regime in March 2012.

  • Local women in western Mosul climb onto a truck to flee the combat zone as Iraqi forces battle the Islamic State militants in March 2017. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Way out

    Local women in western Mosul climb onto a truck to flee the combat zone as Iraqi forces battle the "Islamic State" militants in March 2017.

  • Women mourn four separatists who died in fighting against the Ukrainian army in August 2014. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Final good-bye

    Women mourn four separatists who died in fighting against the Ukrainian army in August 2014. The men were buried in the village they came from south of Donetsk, near the front lines.

  • Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) rebels regroup in northern Kenya in February 2006. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Independence fighter

    Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) rebels regroup in northern Kenya in February 2006. The OLF was formed in 1973 by members of Ethiopia's largest ethnic group to fight for independence. The OLF was legalized in 2018 but has since splintered.

  • A woman stands in front of a bombed-out house in February 2015 in the besieged city of Debaltseve in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

    Last woman standing

    A woman stands in front of a bombed-out house in February 2015. Thousands of civilians were trapped inside the besieged city of Debaltseve, a railway hub that was hotly contested by both pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces. Hundreds were killed in the monthlong battle in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine.


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