Claire Elizabeth Vo

supersonicelectronic:

The Longest War: Photos from Afghanistan

This picture was taken in the Russian Cultural Center, which has been completely bombed-out. It’s ground zero for opium and heroin addicts in this city. On this morning, a couple hundred people were sleeping in their own filth in the basement. It felt like you were swimming through hell. It’s the worst spot of misery and pain I’ve ever seen. Hypodermic needles stuck in my shoes as I walked over to take the photo. The light was streaming through one mortar hole. This guy had just injected heroin. He lifted his head into the light, at a moment of extreme ecstasy. Afghanistan is the No. 1 exporter of opium and heroin, and this picture is a microcosm of everything that can go wrong in a country. It’s the most awful story I’ve ever covered.