In October and November of 2001, Zalmaï traveled to the north of Afghanistan to document the suffering of his people. Women, children, and men were virtually held hostage by bombardment from above, warlords vying for power on the ground, the complete lack of infrastructure resulting from over two decades of war, the terrible scourge of landmines, drought, and dire poverty. In "Les Otages Oubliés" (The Forgotten Hostages) Zalmaï shows us a people brutalized by war and beaten down by the struggle to survive. His photographs speak of the devastation of conflict and years of neglect by the international community but, more importantly, they also speak of resilience and even hope for the future. Above all else, his images show a people who, against all odds and in the face of brutal and terrifying circumstances, maintain their dignity and extraordinary humanity. Zalmaï was born in Afghanistan in 1964. He and his family fled Kabul in 1980 during the Soviet invasion and settled in Switzerland.

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