An underage Afghan boy sleeps in an abandoned car near Patras, Greece, Oct. 11, 2009.
While borders inside Europe have almost vanished, the European Union struggles to close its external borders. Thousands of refugees, mostly from Afghanistan and African countries, try to get into Europe every day. Many pay for it with their lives. In the coming months, I will travel along Europe’s external borders to document the situation of refugees there. My aim is to create a major body of work that highlights the refugee crisis along the European Union’s external borders in a cohesive and comprehensive way. This project is funded in part by the Stiftung Kulturwerk, a German foundation that supports cultural and journalistic projects.
Afghan boys gather used munition after a training shoot of Belgian forces near Kunduz, Afghanistan, April 5, 2011. Financial hardship and a lack of security are the root causes for emigration from Afghanistan. Some Afghan boys start their journey towards Europe at ages as young as twelve.
