Alessio Mamo's award-winning photograph captures Manal, a 12-year-old Iraqi girl recovering from severe burns caused by a missile explosion in Kirkuk. The image, taken at the Médecins Sans Frontières Al-Mowasah hospital in Amman, Jordan, won a World Press Photo award in 2018.
The story behind the photograph
Mamo, a photojournalist from Catania, Sicily, began his career focusing on aesthetics but shifted to social injustice after covering a 2013 shipwreck off Lampedusa that killed over 250 Eritrean migrants. He later traveled to Jordan with journalist Marta Bellingreri to document patients at the MSF hospital, spending months building trust with patients and staff.
Manal, who suffered severe burns to her arms and face, required extensive surgery and wears a protective mask for about five hours daily. Despite her injuries, Mamo describes her as a "regular young girl" who loved storytelling and participating in hospital activities. The portrait was taken spontaneously, with Manal's mother offering Iraqi sweets during the session.
Impact and ongoing work
Mamo remains in touch with Manal, now 19 and living with her uncle in Kirkuk. He notes that children continue to be primary victims of conflicts, and as a new father, he feels an urgent need to highlight their suffering. He is soon traveling to Beirut with The Guardian to document children harmed by the ongoing war, including those wounded in Israeli attacks.
"I feel a huge amount of anger seeing children suffer," Mamo says. "I try to channel what I see and the anger I feel into my work, hoping these stories can raise awareness." He emphasizes the importance of continuing to tell these stories, warning that silence leads to a world where nobody cares about the less fortunate.
Career highlights and advice
Mamo, born in 1976, cites winning two World Press Photo awards as his career high point. His advice to aspiring photojournalists: "Give yourself five years before giving up the job!" His work can be seen on his website or Instagram.
