Elissa Bogos, Photographer and Journalist

Afghanistan: Charahee Qambar Settlement

There are currently an estimated 700 families living in the Charahee Qambar settlement on the outskirts of Kabul. The majority of residents claim to be from Sangin, one of the most volatile areas of Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. As the situation in Helmand continues to deteriorate, more and more Helmandi's are making the two-day journey to live in the relative safety of Kabul.

Wakeel Taous in his friend's home. December, 2009.
   
Lal Mahmat, who estimates his age to be between 75 and 80, huddles in his mud house in the Charahee Qambar settlement. Lal Mahmat left Sangin, Helmand seven months ago to come to the settlement in Kabul. Suffering from rheumatism, he says he spends all day in his hut covering himself with a blanket. December, 2009.
   
Men sit beneath dried meat in their home in the Charahee Qambar settlement. December, 2009.
     
  
Semat, 26, and his younger sister in their mud home in the Charahee Qambar settlement. Semat says he lost his wife and children and was severely burned himself when a bomb fell on their home in Sangin, Helmand. January, 2010.
   
Young children from Helmand play in a ditch in the Charahee Qambar settlement.
   
Ihmat, 10 days old, was born prematurely and was not eating or crying. Infant mortality is a common occurance in the camp, where residents live in mud brick houses with no heat, electricity or running water. January, 2010.
     
  
Malika, 15, gave birth to Ihmat a little over a week ago. She had a cesarian section and is suffering from complications after leaving the hospital early due to not being able to afford ongoing care for her and her newborn son. January, 2010.
   
Two girls bundle in large coats during a cold day in the Charahee Qambar settlement. December, 2009.
   
Men pray in front of a mud mosque in the settlement camp. January, 2010.
     
  
   
Wakeel, a Pashtun from Sangin, Helmand's capital city, makes a telephone call to his friend. He has been living in the camp for the past three months.
   
     
  
Zorakhea, 55, brings her youngest grandchild, Fawzia, 5 months, to a mullah in the camp. Fawzia, who is wrapped in a bundletied with strings, developed an ear infection several days ago. Mullah Mohammed Sadiq recites verses from the Quran while touching Fawzia's head with his Tazbe, or prayer beads. "These beads are always withme, " he says. "As I touch each bead, I recite 'Allah.' Perhaps I recite God's name 20,000 times per day."
   
A man and his family sit upon what remains of their belongings after a gas fire burned down their tent.