Tomas van Houtryve
Initially a student in philosophy, Tomas van Houtryve discovered his interest for photography while enrolled in an overseas program in Nepal. Upon graduation in 1999,...
Read more ›Storm In The Swat Valley
on 02 September 2010
Even before the floods hit, the peace and beauty of Pakistan's Swat
valley had been shattered by a Taliban invasion and a violent army
counter offensive. Up to two million people were displaced by the
fighting. It was only in the Spring of this year that the Pakistani
army managed to bring this rugged and picturesque area-once
referred to as the "Switzerland of Pakistan"-back under government
control.
And then the second storm hit. Heavy monsoon rains turned the Swat river into a devastating force, pulling houses off the banks and collapsing roads. According to Pakistani officials, every bridge across the river was destroyed. Towns and villages were suddenly cut off from the rest of the world, leaving foot trails and helicopter flights as the only way to bring in relief supplies. At a one helipad, the photographer watched as some flights were loaded with food and disaster aid, while others were loaded only with soldiers, weaponry and ammunition.
And then the second storm hit. Heavy monsoon rains turned the Swat river into a devastating force, pulling houses off the banks and collapsing roads. According to Pakistani officials, every bridge across the river was destroyed. Towns and villages were suddenly cut off from the rest of the world, leaving foot trails and helicopter flights as the only way to bring in relief supplies. At a one helipad, the photographer watched as some flights were loaded with food and disaster aid, while others were loaded only with soldiers, weaponry and ammunition.