I’ve seen famines and genocides in Africa, the plight of refugees the world over and many conflicts, including those of the Persian Gulf, the intifada, Somalia and Kosovo. I’ve witnessed people die of starvation and watched military hardware crush the youth and spirit of Tiananmen Square in China. And I’ve been inspired by the dignity, honesty and decency of the good people my lens and life have encountered.
This year, at the Morini border crossing between Kosovo and Albania, I came across one such individual. Mustafa Xaja is a Kosovar Albanian who had been held by the Serbs; I noticed him because he looked like a big, strong guy–but he was beside himself with grief. He pulled out his wallet and showed me two little photos of a gorgeous boy and girl; sobbing, he put them next to his cheek. The photo made the cover of NEWSWEEK International. I was gratified that so many people saw Mustafa’s plight, but I had no idea what happened to him. Much later, I returned to Kosovo and went to Mitrovica, Mustafa’s town. I showed the photo to people on the street, and found Mustafa standing only a few yards from me. To my delight, his wife and children are alive and the family reunited. Finding them together was a great way to end the year.
