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Asmaa Waguih sheds light on a forgotten war

The photojournalist and RPS member reflects on documenting a nation’s people and politics in Yemen

‘Men from the Arhab tribe raise their ceremonial janbiya “daggers” in the air in a show of support for the Houthis’ by Asmaa Waguih

With over 20 years’ experience as a photojournalist, Cairo-born-and-based Asmaa Waguih is well versed in uncovering the human stories often obscured when a country is mired in conflict.

Originally a freelance reporter, Waguih began focusing on images while covering the fall of Baghdad in 2003, spending a subsequent three years documenting the after-effects of the Iraq War.

She went on to work for eight years as a photographer for Reuters News Agency. During this time she documentied conflicts in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine, as well as the Arab Spring in Egypt. 

Since going freelance in 2016, Waguih has frequently travelled to Yemen to capture the lives of its people against the contrasting backdrop of the ongoing conflict between rival Yemeni factions, regional powers and their proxies.

This exploration has culminated in her photobook War: A Journey Through Civil War in Yemen.

Featuring 150 colour photographs shot between April 2016 and February 2022, Waguih’s book tells a story of a largely forgotten war and resultant humanitarian crisis while spotlighting Yemen’s traditions, rich history and striking landscapes.

Here, Waguih explains how her work helps paint a fuller picture of a country at war.

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‘People caught in the crossfire of conflict in Hodeidah leave their homes in search of safety, with some receiving emergency assistance from pro-government forces’ by Asmaa Waguih 

You’ve photographed throughout Yemen between 2016 and 2022. Tell us about this experience.

Even as I’ve gone on to cover other stories, I’ve found myself constantly drawn back to Yemen. It’s a complicated country – sometimes the enemy of my enemy has been my friend.

Every time I’ve returned I’ve witnessed first-hand the frustrations Yemen’s people experience as they continue to live under the pressures caused by militias and foreign intervention.

Since first visiting Yemen in 2016 I’ve been lucky enough to meet so many remarkable people. I’ve established a network of civilians, fighters and tribesmen who’ve helped me document corners of the country normally forbidden to outsiders.

The scale of Yemen’s conflict is vast. I’ve travelled from the Houthi-run capital, Sana’a, to other regions and cities including Southern Taiz, Hodeidah – which overlooks the Red Sea – and the coastal town, Aden.

My time in Sana’a – a city nestled in a mountain valley at an altitude of 2,200 metres – was particularly eye-opening. I’d always been aware of Yemen’s strong gun culture, but I wasn’t prepared to see children being used as soldiers. I saw many of these youngsters making their way through the city brandishing weapons far too large for them to carry.

As I travelled to several cities central to the conflict, it became obvious that Yemen’s civil war had reached a stalemate. Subsequently its people have become trapped in the inertia generated by the constant looming threat of further conflict.

I wanted my photography to document this ongoing struggle that contrasts with the outward appearance of the conflict supposedly having ended. 

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‘Pro-government fighters ride motorbikes in the countryside of Taiz, close to the border with Hodeidah’ by Asmaa Waguih

Why has it been so important for you to cover Yemen’s civil war so extensively?

For the past nine years Yemen has been caught in a civil war with the Houthis, a Shia Islamist political and military movement. This conflict – which has seen involvement from America and Europe – has been branded a proxy war that has acted as a strategic battleground between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Now, Yemen has become the scene of what the United Nations has deemed one of the worst ongoing humanitarian disasters of modern times.

Since the war started in 2015 more than 370,000 people have died – including 150,000 deaths directly caused by military action – and millions of Yemenis have been displaced and deprived of food, water and electricity.

Over 700,000 people have been injured or become sick and the country has dealt with massive outbreaks of cholera. Much of Yemen’s infrastructure has also completely collapsed, resulting in the closure of almost 50% of the country’s hospitals.

Given these shocking statistics you’d expect international outcry. But the world largely turns a blind eye to Yemen’s plight. And in my own experiences of travelling the country, I’ve encountered just a few journalists actively reporting what’s going on here.

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‘Fishermen playing their trade with nets in the Gulf of Aden’ by Asmaa Waguih

What inspired you to create a photobook documenting Yemen’s civil war?

Yemen’s conflict has been dubbed a 'forgotten war'. And with international media’s attention shifted to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, this invisibility has been sustained. It doesn’t change the fact that Yemen is still reeling from the effects of its conflict – its people in particular.

Through my photobook I want to raise awareness of Yemen’s plight while showcasing the resilience and fascinating stories of its people and culture to audiences worldwide.

Was it challenging curating six years’ worth of photographs documenting Yemen’s civil war for your photobook?

I didn’t set out with the intention of creating a photobook. The idea only first came to mind in 2019.

By 2022 I’d shot so many images I knew it’d take time to identify the photographs that captured the complexity of Yemen’s conflict and the lives of those caught in its web.

Selecting 150 images for my photobook was still a huge challenge. My background as a reporter really helped me identify the narrative I wanted my images to portray.

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‘Anti-Houthi fighters in Taiz use a mine detector in search of mines in an area recently freed from Houthi control’ by Asmaa Waguih

However, my partner Ricardo – who I’ve dedicated the book to – was incredibly encouraging. He’s never visited Yemen and his outsider’s perspective was so useful in choosing and arranging my images. 

This selection process also provided plenty of time for reflection on my work. It’s been eye-opening witnessing how my approach to photography and the situation in Yemen has changed over this six-year period.

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‘Women queue to receive humanitarian assistance at the distribution point in Amran’ by Asmaa Waguih

What do you want readers to take away from the book?

Yemen is an amazing country, filled with breathtaking landscapes and an intriguing ancient heritage. I would really like to see my book encouraging people to learn more about Yemen and its current situation so we can better support it.

My photos show the everyday reality of a nation experiencing one of the world’s longest-running wars. And while the physical traces of conflict may not be visible in every frame, it’s infused in every image.

Regardless of what side of the conflict the individuals I’ve photographed align with, I hope the culture, land and customs of Yemenis shine through. Above all, I want my photobook to portray Yemenis simply as they are: warm, remarkable and resilient people.

Unfinished War: A Journey Through Civil War in Yemen by Asmaa Waguih is published by Helion & Company.

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