The work *I’m Afraid: What U.S. Aid Cuts Mean for the Women of Afghanistan* by French photojournalist and writer Elise Blanchard has won the 2026 International Award for Humanist Photojournalism.
The jury reached this unanimous decision, highlighting the work’s ability to place the lives and rights of Afghan women at the forefront. It reveals the tangible consequences that the Taliban regime and the reduction in international aid have on their sexual and reproductive health, their autonomy, and their future prospects.
The jury also commended the series for being built upon a foundation of closeness, time, and deep knowledge of Afghanistan. It is a narrative born of years of presence and work, in which the author’s own experience intertwines with the memories and daily reality of a wounded nation.
Ultimately, the jury noted, it is a sequence of visually powerful images that constructs a coherent story without reducing the photographed women to mere victims. The series speaks of restrictions, abandonment, and the violation of rights, but also of resilience, dignity, and the determination to continue building a life in an increasingly hostile environment.
The work exemplifies—with particular clarity—the values that inspire this award: documentary depth, a commitment to human rights, knowledge of the region, narrative and photographic excellence, and a gender perspective that runs through the entire story.
Elise Blanchard lived in Afghanistan for seven years, focusing primarily on the conflict’s impact on women and girls, as well as on the Taliban and their governance. She worked for the AFP bureau in Kabul for two years—covering the country’s fall in 2021—before resuming her career as an independent professional.
In addition to Afghanistan, she has worked in rebel-held areas of Myanmar and in Ukraine. Since then, their reports and photographs have been published in outlets such as TIME Magazine, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Le Monde, Die Zeit, The Guardian, and Le Figaro, among others.
With *I’m Afraid*, they won a World Press Photo award and the PJP Impact Prize in 2026.
Special Jury Prize
Additionally, the jury agreed to jointly award the Special Jury Prize to photojournalists Abdelrahman Alkahlout and Brais Lorenzo.
Abdelrahman Alkahlout’s work turns the spotlight on Gaza—a reality that, despite its harshness, must continue to be shown and recounted—by placing people at the center of the narrative.
In the case of Brais Lorenzo, the jury particularly highlighted his construction of a comprehensive story about the wildfires. His work captures environmental and social damage, collective and institutional responses, fear and destruction, as well as recovery and the relationship between people and the land. The human and almost anthropological dimension of his images was also highly valued.
Thus, the EIFA International Humanist Photojournalism Award has established itself as a benchmark accolade. This is evidenced by the number of submissions—nearly 140 entries from 118 professionals worldwide, including five photographers awarded at World Press Photo 2026 and at least ten winners from various past editions of World Press Photo—as well as the extraordinary quality of the work. These figures represent 200% growth and a participation rate more than three times higher than that of the previous edition.
The award—which has increased its prize money to €3,000 for the winning entry, with an additional €1,000 for the Special Jury Prize—will be presented on October 3rd during the closing ceremony of the Asturias International Photojournalism Gathering.
