Photo exhibition "Invisible in the City: the lives of urban refugees", in Södertälje town hall. © Jocke Serrander and Södertälje kommun

Wednesday 14 April, 2010

Photo exhibtion in Södertälje:

"Invisible in the City: the lives of urban refugees"

A UNHCR photo exhibition, "Invisible in the City: the lives of urban refugees", opened in Södertälje town hall this week. The exhibition illustrates the resilience of refugees, their hopes and dreams as they struggle to simply survive, make a living and care for their families. Featuring 42 images of refugees living in urban settings in Colombia, Malaysia and South Africa taken by UNHCR photographer Zalmaï, the exhibition will be on show until the end of April.

The iconic image of refugees is row upon row of white tents in a sprawling emergency camp. But the reality is that only one-third of the world's 10.5 million refugees now live in camps. The majority live in towns and cities. 
Read more "Refugees in the urban jungle"

And some of them live in Södertälje, some 45 minutes south of Stockholm. "When George W Bush started the Iraq war seven years ago with an invasion, it felt like far away, almost like in a movie. Few thought it would affect Sweden. But in today's world everything affects everybody, to quote Vaclav Havel. Almost 7000 Iraqi refugees have since come to Sodertalje. More municipalities should take responsibility. Indeed all of us have a responsibility", Södertälje Mayor Anders Lago said at the opening of the exhibition.

In cutting the ribbon, former Swedish Foreign Minister, former chairman of the UN General Assembly and former UN Envoy to Darfur, Jan Eliasson, praised Sodertalje for its solidarity, humanity and practical work to integrate the town's asylum-seekers and refugees, some of whom also attended the opening.

Renowned photographer Zalmaï Ahad, known professionally as Zalmaï, is a former refugee himself from Afghanistan, but now lives in Switzerland. In his opening address Hans ten Feld, UNHCR Regional Representative said: "Beyond the immediate, Zalmaï's photos also illustrate that refugees - if given the chance - can be a resource."

The exhibition will run at Södertälje town hall until the end of April, where it will be open to the public during office hours. Local schools classes are scheduled to visit it.

Next the photo exhibition will move to Shanghai and to the UNHCR pavilion at the World Expo in June 2010, and thereafter go on a UPS-sponsored tour of major world cities and venues.