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Story Publication logo September 23, 2016

Paula Bronstein on the Silent Victims of Afghanistan's War

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Afghanistan
Author:
Kharim Ahmad,22, suffered shrapnel wounds on his face and the loss of a leg from fighting in Sangin. He was being treated at the Emergency hospital in Lashkar Gah on March 25. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2016.
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Afghanistan's War Wounded

Documenting the collateral damage from America’s longest war.

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A sight from the operating room at a hospital for the war wounded in Kabul, Afghanistan. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Medics carry a policeman with a gunshot wound to his face into the emergency room. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
While driving home from work with his window down, Hatiqullah Sadiq sustained second- and third-degree burns when a suicide bomber set off explosives beside the Ministry of Defense. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
An ambulance transports a patient from Ghazni. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Sayed Malik, a soldier in the Afghan National Army, awaits surgery after losing both his legs while de-mining in Sangin. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Najiba holds her nephew, Shabir, who was injured from the same bomb blast that killed his sister. Najiba watched over the children while Shabir’s mother buried her daughter. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
After sustaining severe burns from a mine injury, Zabiullah undergoes surgery for a skin graft. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Najiba, age 3, recovers from a shrapnel-induced head injury in the pediatric unit. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Payenda Khan was farming at his home in Gardez when he dug up a mine. The injuries to his face were so severe that he required complete facial reconstruction. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
In the emergency room, a boy steals a glance at a fellow patient receiving treatment. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Aman Gull received a painful bullet wound to her face during a fight between police and Taliban members. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Patients with chest injuries, often from shrapnel or bullet wounds, strengthen their lung capacity with water bottles. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Abdul Kabir kisses his son Noor Ahmad, unconscious with a severe brain injury from an improvised explosive device. Noor was also injured from the explosion, but fully recovered. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Faryab lost both of his legs — and his sister and brother — during a rocket attack. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Khair Mohammed took three bullets to his abdomen and skull. He is now paraplegic. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Patients enjoy a sunny day at the emergency hospital for the war wounded. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Ahah Kahn is a shepherd from Helmand, but today he is barely able to walk due to a brain injury from an incendiary explosive device. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Mohammad Saber rests after learning to walk on his new prosthetics. He lost his legs in a bomb blast. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
At the orthopedic center, a handicapped employee prays after finishing his duties. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
A patient awaits physical therapy. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
At the Kabul School for the Blind, Ruma reads from a braille book. She lost her sight in a rocket attack. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Khuja Fareed, a quadriplegic, was shot in the neck during a Taliban ambush while he was working with the US military as a truck driver. With no financial assistance from the U.S. military or the Afghan government, Khuja depends on his family to care for him. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Nasrullah, left, chats with friends outside the orthopedic center. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Ibrahim, a mine victim, begs on the street during Nowruz, the Afghan New Year Festival. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.
Razia Noorizada Didar was working at Tolo TV, one of Afghanistan’s largest entertainment channels, when the company’s bus was rammed by the car of a Taliban suicide bomber. Seven people were killed and at least 25 wounded in the attack. Image by Paula Bronstein. Afghanistan, 2015.

Paula Bronstein has made numerous journeys to Afghanistan since 2001. During her most recent trip, she pulled back the curtain on a hospital for the war wounded. View the full slideshow here.

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