Apr 07 Somalia drought forces thousands to leave home seeking food and water By Larisa Epatko The last famine to hit Somalia was in 2011 when 260,000 people died, about half of them children under 5. Humanitarian organizations fear this year’s drought could lead to something even worse. Continue reading
Mar 31 More people are entering Canada illegally, but no one knows for sure why By Larisa Epatko Canada, known for setting out the welcome mat for refugees, has attracted hundreds of asylum-seekers over the past few months. These immigrants, mainly from Africa and the Middle East, are entering illegally from the U.S., though the exact reason is… Continue reading
Mar 24 Photos: Vets race to save the last two animals in the Mosul zoo By Larisa Epatko UPDATED: It took months of planning and unanticipated hangups at border crossings, but the Four Paws International team led by Amir Khalil succeeded in removing Lula the bear and Simba the lion from their confines at the damaged Mosul zoo… Continue reading
Mar 18 Photo of a Syrian man listening to records in his bombed-out bedroom is about life, not war By Larisa Epatko The image has spread widely across the Internet of a man listening to a gramophone in what’s left of his bedroom in Aleppo, Syria. The AFP photographer, Joseph Eid, thinks he knows why it struck a chord with so many. Continue reading
Mar 10 Facing problems in Pakistan, Afghans return home in droves By Larisa Epatko Over the past year, about 600,000 Afghans have crossed the border back into Afghanistan. A new mapping tool is helping aid groups coordinate their response. Continue reading
Mar 08 Photos: A look at International Women’s Day marches around the world By Dayana Morales Gomez March 8 was designated as International Women’s Day, an ode to the march in Petrograd, Russia just before the Russian Revolution. Continue reading
Mar 03 Why Elvis shot this TV (and other photos from the new Graceland entertainment complex) By Larisa Epatko Along with his snarling baritone and swiveling hips, Elvis apparently was known for his gunslinging. Continue reading
Feb 24 As fighting worsens in Mosul, aid groups struggle to help those who choose to stay By Larisa Epatko Aid groups are discovering that many Iraqis want to stay in their homes, rather than venturing to temporary camps. “We’re not able to get into western Mosul, but we can only predict that the situation there remains dire," said Su’ad… Continue reading
Feb 17 In South Sudan, a mother reunites with her children By Larisa Epatko Families scatter in the chaos of South Sudan's internal fighting, but from time to time, lost loved ones are reunited. Continue reading
Feb 10 Here’s what the Mexico border wall looks like now By Larisa Epatko President Donald Trump wants to build up the border between Mexico and the U.S. Here's what that 1,900-mile stretch looks like now. Continue reading