SHARJAH, Feb 24: The Kuwaiti initiative "Humanitarian Photography Grant" arrived in Sharjah on Monday, following its first stop in Virginia earlier this February. The initiative carries a message of solidarity with the people of Gaza, highlighting their resilience in the face of Israeli occupation forces. The grant participated in the ninth edition of the International Photography Festival (Xposure 2025), held in the Aljada area of Sharjah.

The exhibition, titled "Resilience in Gaza: Stories of Strength and Survival," blends creativity, knowledge, and discovery, drawing the attention of photography and visual arts enthusiasts. Organized by the Sharjah Government Media Office, the event runs until February 26, showcasing one of the most profound humanitarian messages. The photographs, captured by photographers from Gaza, offer a unique perspective of the harsh realities on the ground, portraying the voices of humanity that are only truly understood through firsthand experiences.

The exhibition is supported by Kuwaiti humanitarian organizations, including the Nama Charitable Society, the International Islamic Charitable Organization, and the KAF Humanitarian Association of Bahrain. These organizations believe in the importance of supporting photographers working under difficult conditions in occupied territories, enabling them to capture and share the truth, balancing pain with hope, steadfastness with life.

Sami Al-Rumayan, the head of the Humanitarian Photography Grant, spoke to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) during the event. He emphasized that this exhibition is the second of its kind, following the first held in the United States. The exhibition reflects the initiative's commitment to supporting photographers in crisis-affected areas. "An image is not just a snapshot; it is a testimony to reality," Al-Rumayan said. He noted that photography in Gaza is not only an art form but an act of resistance against media blackouts. The grant's mission is to empower photographers to serve as honest mirrors of the events unfolding in Gaza, allowing their voices to reach the world through powerful images that reflect both suffering and resilience.

Al-Rumayan highlighted the role of photography in conveying the voices of the voiceless and promoting the culture of visual documentation in the face of human tragedies.

Saad Al-Otaibi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Grant Award, also shared his thoughts with KUNA. He explained that the exhibition is part of a long-term journey to empower talent in the most challenging circumstances. The goal is to give photographers in Gaza a chance to tell their own story and present the reality through the eyes of those who have lived it, rather than through external observers. "In light of the ongoing crises, humanitarian photography has become a vital tool in conveying the truth to the world and shedding light on the suffering of innocent people," Al-Otaibi said. He added that the grant represents the commitment to supporting creative photographers dedicated to serving humanity.

Al-Otaibi further mentioned that the Board of Trustees aims to provide a supportive environment for photographers involved in the grant, ensuring their work addresses impactful issues and motivates them to create visual content that drives positive change. He expressed hope that the grant would mark a turning point in the field of humanitarian photography and help amplify inspiring human stories of resilience in the face of adversity.

Hussein Al-Moussawi, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic Arabic magazine, also spoke with KUNA. He noted that the exhibition goes beyond art, becoming a documentation of living human history. "These photos are not just creative works; they are visual documents that carry messages for future generations, highlighting details that may otherwise be forgotten but are forever etched in memory," he said.

It is worth noting that the Humanitarian Photography Grant held its first photography exhibition in the United States on February 7, titled "Through Their Lens: Untold Stories of Gaza." The exhibition featured a group of distinguished Palestinian photographers who used their lenses to convey the truth, documenting the suffering and resilience amid one of the most violent genocides in modern history.