Portraits of the Near East

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In this part of the world war is not something that is merely written about in text books, studied in history or something that is taking place far from home without threat of it reaching your own borders.War is written in the streets and on the walls, penned with bullets from yesteryear.

Conflict is in the very fabric of this place, with most countries in the region having experienced some kind of war within the last 50 years, if not with each other then civil. This is not to mention the fact that the Syrian civil war still rages on. 

Car bombs are a common method of attack, usually targeting politicians. 

I recently stayed 3 days at a respiratory hospital for the Bedouin people, interviewing the workers there and some of the patients. Annoyingly I actually forgot to take my camera with me for the trip but it was a stunning savanna in the middle of the desert. While I did not experience it myself I was told that just a few days previous the bombs falling over the border in Syria could be heard from the ward.

Note the coffins graffitied on the floor 

Numerous military personal punctuate the streets in each of the nations that I have visited here in the Near East. While these countries generally feel safe from day to day the governments would rather not take the risk. They know how quickly a situation can change from tension to conflict and so would rather keep a tight reign on the situation.

Thousands of crusaders crosses line the walls

Not only is war a thing of the near past but also the ancient past and the scars still remain; etched into the walls but also into the psyche of the people groups that were targeted.

Abandoned military bunker 

While some military installations serve as a reminder that certain wars have ended there are plenty of signs to remind you that more is expected to come...

I think it speaks for itself...

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