1993 Photo Contest, Daily Life, 1st prize
Photographer

Larry Towell

Magnum Photos for The New York Times Magazine

01 January, 1991

A FMLN guerilla enters Santa Marta, El Salvador, a village of repatriated refugees. In January 1992, the government of El Salvador and the FMLN guerrilla movement signed a treaty to end the 12-year civil war which killed 70,000 and caused one million - a fifth of the total population - to flee the country. It was agreed that the FMLN would become a political party. Shortly before the signing of the peace treaty the army moved into Chalatenango, traditionally an FMLN-controlled area. Assisted by human rights organizations and church organizations, rebels returned to their homes, and the FMLN was being reformed in preparation for the 1994 general election. Santa Marta was the first village of returned refugees, who had supported the FMLN guerrillas throughout the war. In villages such as Santa Marta, rural campesinos had no access to running water or electricity for their homes. Laundry was done at communal water holes, wells and streams.

About the photographer

Larry Towell

Larry Towell has worked for many years as a freelance Magnum photographer in areas of conflict and social unrest. His work has resulted in thirteen books, hundreds of journal pub...

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