Photo Essays

When it comes to refugees, the focus of Western media in recent months has been on the desperate people trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe and those trying to cross the Indian Ocean to reach Indonesia and Malaysia. However, refugees from Yemen are also taking on the perilous journey across the Gulf of Aden in an attempt to reach the Republic of Djibouti, one of the world's poorest countries. Qantara.de presents impressions of Markazi refugee camp in Djibouti. All photos by Andreas Stahl

Many people associate Afghan women with the burqa, the garment that covers a woman's entire face, head and body and is worn in a number of Islamic countries. This is not surprising considering that under Taliban rule – a period that received extensive coverage in Western media – women were required to wear a burqa outside the home. But it wasn't always like this. The German press agency (dpa) recently released a series of historical photos showing Afghan women in Western-style clothes and without veils or headscarves. Qantara.de presents a selection of these photos

Calais has become a magnet for refugees trying to reach the UK. The reason for this is that the entrance to the Channel Tunnel (Eurotunnel) is situated there. Because migrants cannot simply board one of the many ferries crossing the channel, crossing illegally via the tunnel seems like a viable alternative. In recent weeks, the situation has escalated and become both dangerous and very difficult to manage

According to a WHO report from December 2014, more than one million Syrians have been wounded in the Syrian civil war since the spring of 2011. Some 45 per cent of the injured are children and women; about 10–15 per cent have suffered amputations or disabilities. Daily shelling is the main cause of their injuries. From spring 2014 to early 2015, photographer Kai Wiedenhofer travelled through towns, villages and refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon, taking pictures of those left scarred by the conflict. He says that by showing the genuine aftermath of this conflict and photographing its victims in a dignified manner, his intention was to raise support for people who are really in need and whose sufferings do not end with the war. "In all my time as a photographer," he says, "I have never witnessed such grave atrocities." All photos in this gallery are by Kai Wiedenhofer

This is a taxi ride like no other: Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi made "Taxi" on a shoestring budget. It not only offers a unique and humorous insight into life in Tehran, but also makes a bold political statement. To mark the film's general release in Germany, Qantara.de brings you a series of photos relating to the film and some stills

A mere 70 years ago, the nomadic peoples of the Cholistan Desert still wandered between Rajasthan in India and the Punjab in Pakistan. But after the founding of the state of Pakistan, their freedom to move around was increasingly restricted. Over time, their traditional lifestyle has changed. Photos by Usman Mahar

Life is anything but easy for "hijras" (transgender people) in Pakistan, where men dressed in women's clothes are still considered an affront. Hijras identify themselves as third gender individuals. Photographers Muhammed Muheisen and Shakil Adils' photographs provide a fascinating insight into their everyday lives. By Monika Griebeler

Qatar is considered to be one of the richest countries in the world and will be playing host to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The sporting grounds and stadiums are being constructed by an army of workers from South-East Asia – often under catastrophic working and living conditions.

Far away from Pakistan's motorways and cities, there are regions of the country where centuries-old forts, imposing shrines and natural attractions – largely unknown to most travellers - are just waiting to be discovered. Julis Koch takes us on a photographic trip through Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan

The ancient ruins of Palmyra are remnants of a bygone golden era. For several days now, the ruins have been controlled by the militias of Islamic State. UNESCO has warned that the World Heritage site is now at risk of being destroyed.