Maha, 5, and her family fled from the village Hawija outside Mosul, Iraq, seven days ago. The fear of ISIS and the lack of food forced them to leave their home, her mother says. Now Maha lays on a dirty mattress in the overcrowded transit center in Debaga refugee camp.Magnus Wennman—Aftonbladet, winner in the People - First Prize, Singles category.
Sometimes the innocence of a child’s face can say more about a country’s struggle than countless graphic images of blood and destruction. A haunting photograph of five-year-old Maha, whose family were forced to flee ISIS, does just that. The image, taken by Magnus Wennman, quietly reveals the suffering felt by so many Iraqis at the hands of terrorism and is the winner in the World Press Photo’s People Singles category.
The quiet beauty of Robin Hammond’s portrait of Helen, a woman living in a developing country with a mental illness, took second prize in same category. Michael Vince Kim’s vignette of ethnic Koreans born in Mexico and Cuba as a result of migration won first prize in the People Stories category, while Antonio Gibotta took second prize for his lively portrayal of Spanish traditions.
The winning photographs were selected from among 80,408 images submitted by 5,034 photographers from 125 different countries. In the end, 45 photographers from 25 countries made up the winning list. They will receive their awards at a ceremony in Amsterdam on April 22.
Maha, 5, and her family fled from the village Hawija outside Mosul, Iraq, seven days ago. The fear of ISIS and the lack of food forced them to leave their home, her mother says. Now Maha lays on a dirty mattress in the overcrowded transit center in Debaga refugee camp.Magnus Wennman—Aftonbladet, winner in the People - First Prize, Singles category.Hellen, 41, lives with a mental health problem. Her illness developed later in life. In developing countries, over 80% of people living with mental health problems do not receive any treatment.Robin Hammond—Noor for Witness Change, winner in the People - Second Prize, Singles category.A woman strokes a girl’s head as she rests on her lap whilst sitting on a sofa in a police station in Camaguey, Cuba, on Feb. 12, 2016, with a portrait of Fidel Castro hanging above them.Kristina Kormilitsyna—Kommersant Newspaper, winner in the People - Third Prize, Singles category.Korean-Mayan descendants during a birthday party. Merida, Mexico. 2016.Michael Vince Kim, winner in the People - First Prize, Stories category.Port of Progreso, Mexico, where Koreans first arrived in the Yucatan peninsula. Progreso, Mexico. 2016.Michael Vince Kim, winner in the People - First Prize, Stories category.Sisters Olga and Adelina Lim Hi, descendants of Koreans. Matanzas, Cuba. 2016.Michael Vince Kim, winner in the People - First Prize, Stories category.A Korean-Mayan's traditional Korean dress. Merida, Mexico. 2016.Michael Vince Kim, winner in the People - First Prize, Stories category.On Dec. 28 each year, the “Floured War" takes place in Ibi in the province of Alicante, Spain. During the festival, the citizens are divided into two groups: the 'Enfarinat' (the floured) group simulates a coup d'etat and a second group tries to calm the rebellion. The teams play with flour, water, eggs and colored smoke bombs. Antonio Gibotta—Agenzia Controluce, winner in the People - Second Prize, Stories category.The 200-year-old tradition is known as “Els Enfarinats”, marking the biblical Massacre of the Innocents by King Herod.Antonio Gibotta—Agenzia Controluce, winner in the People - Second Prize, Stories category.On Dec. 28 each year, the “Floured War" takes place in Ibi in the province of Alicante, Spain. During the festival, the citizens are divided into two groups: the 'Enfarinat' (the floured) group simulates a coup d'etat and a second group tries to calm the rebellion. The teams play with flour, water, eggs and colored smoke bombs. Antonio Gibotta—Agenzia Controluce, winner in the People - Second Prize, Stories category.The 200-year-old tradition is known as “Els Enfarinats”, marking the biblical Massacre of the Innocents by King Herod.Antonio Gibotta—Agenzia Controluce, winner in the People - Second Prize, Stories category.Christen Press, a forward with the Women's National Team, will compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics and is photographed at Chadwick School, where she is an alumni, in Palos Verdes, Calif.Jay Clendenin—Los Angeles Times, winner in the People - Third Prize, Stories category.Carlos Balderas will compete as a lightweight/132 lbs boxer in the 2016 Rio Olympics and is photographed in his family gym in Santa Maria, Calif.
Jay Clendenin—Los Angeles Times, winner in the People - Third Prize, Stories category.Zach Garrett will be part of the US archery team at the 2016 Rio Olympics and is photographed at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. This is Garrett's first Olympics.Jay Clendenin—Los Angeles Times, winner in the People - Third Prize, Stories category.Folau Niua, Danny Berret, Martin Iosefo, and Garrett Bender will be part of the men's sevens US rugby team at the 2016 Rio Olympics and are photographed at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.Jay Clendenin—Los Angeles Times, winner in the People - Third Prize, Stories category.
