Syria’s drama in a photo

A five-year-old Syrian boy who was born without limbs is portrayed smiling at his father, who has lost a leg, in a photo that is a symbol of the tragic conflict in Syria. The picture of the refugee father and son, shot by Turkish photographer Mehmet Aslan, has won the Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA) 2021.

The pair smile as they look at one another, the picture of happiness despite the decade-long drama around them — the spiral of violence and blood that appears endless. The photo has been published by newspapers around the world, including the Washington Post on October 23.

“We wanted to bring attention to this [situation],” said Aslan, who hopes the photo will help the child’s quest for prosthetics.