The photo library of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), containing a rich collection of some 120,000 pictures, is probably one of the best visual databases on humanitarian activities. The exhibition spans the Spanish-American War of 1898, and the two world wars of the twentieth century, through to the more recent conflicts in Sierra Leone, Sudan, Afghanistan and Syria, among others.
Through the lens of ICRC photographers past and present, the collection charts the changing nature of war and the evolving challenges faced by the ICRC since its founding in 1863. The photos offer an insight into humanitarian action, with themes such as war surgery and health care, restoring family links and assistance for detainees.