Portrait project

We Are Here, Because You Were There

Afghan interpreters in the UK

‘We Are Here, Because You Were There; Afghan Interpreters in the UK’ is a photography portrait project documenting the experiences of Afghan interpreters employed by the British Army who have resettled in the UK. The joint project between academic Prof Sara de Jong and myself, ‘We Are Here’ centres on Afghan interpreters’ own stories, inviting viewers to engage with the individuals, their families and the human stories behind the headlines. The catalogue of the ‘We Are Here’ project is available here.

Freedom of Information request by Sara de Jong, 24 October 2022

Between 2001 and 2018 Locally Employed Civilians (LECs) while working as interpreters with British forces in Afghanistan;

26

Killed

135

Injured

United States Institute of Peace, Kate Bateman, 3rd November 2022

Cost to the US

Between 2001 and 2021 the US government spent $2.3 trillion in Afghanistan and suffered the following death toll;

2,324

US military personnel

3,917

US contractors

1,144

Allied troops

Afghan and other deaths

70k

Military & Police

46k

Civilians

53k

Enemy troops

67k

Killed in Pakistan


Honourable mention photography award

Monochrome Awards

Honourable mention photography award

ND Awards

Bronze winner photography award

Prix de la Photographie, Paris

Short list selection photography award

Prix Pictet

Nominated

Bronze winner photography award

Tokyo International Foto Awards