Bronze / 2024 / Press / Feature Story

America’s Burn Pit

The US invasion of Iraq 20 years ago brought catastrophic consequences. Toxic exposure affected Iraqi communities near US military bases, where open burn pits were used for trash disposal. American veterans faced health issues, but the impact on Iraqis went unrecognized. Farmers witnessed harmful items burnt in pits, unaware of the health risks. The aftermath reveals a significant toll on both sides.

Salwan Georges is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist for The Washington Post. In 2020, he was awarded a Pulitzer Prize with his team for covering climate change around the world. In 2023, he was named Photographer of the Year by NPPA for his work covering the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the race to save Black Rhinos in Africa, and the fentanyl crisis in U.S. and Mexico. In 2021, Georges was named Photographer of the Year by POYi for covering a racial reckoning in Minneapolis, an unforgettable U.S. national election, and a deadly pandemic.

Awards - Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism, winner, 2020
- Photographer of the Year, POYi, 2021
- Photographer of the Year, NPPA, 2023
- Photographer of the Year, Siena International Photo Awards, 2023
- Photographer of the Year, Northern Short Course, 2021 & 2023
- Kavli Science Journalism Award, Gold Award in Science Reporting, winner, 2022