Coverage of the crisis in Egypt has been plastered over newspapers, blogs and television headlines for days, but do we truly understand the intensity of the situation? When we hear that the government shut off internet across Egypt, we immediately think “Man, now they can’t even get on Facebook?” without even realizing that the protesting Egyptians have been left without even the simplest of freedoms-- access to the Internet.
It wasn’t until I came across these photos from the New York Times and saw the desperate state that the country has fallen into within the past few days that I realized the gravity of the situation.
[photo credit: Ed Ou for the New York Times]
As angry protestors throw bricks down into the trash-covered streets of Tahir Square in Cairo, Egypt, one can't help but to think of the poor mothers huddled in the corner of their home utterly terrified to leave their own homes in fear that their children could be the next victim of the protestor's violence.
[photo credit: Ed Ou for the New York Times]
Throwing rocks out onto the into the ironically named Liberation Square, the men use violence to try and solve their government's problems. Internationally, only slight helps have been suggested. In his state of the union address, Barack Obama suggested that "peaceful demonstrations" replace the violent outbursts instead of actually providing help for the struggling country.
[photo credit: Ed Ou for the New York Times]
An injured protestor took refuge in a house nearby the protest sight, head wounds similar to this man's are common among the protestors. While this man is injured enough to prevent him from participating in protests, he is lucky to be alive. As of February 1, 2011, a total of 158 deaths have been reported.
These photographs make the Egyptian headlines come alive by showing the utter depravity within in the country. A UK reporter even called the situation "a war zone." Today they are throwing rocks; tomorrow they are overthrowing the government.
Good use of photos!