Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Gas Shortage

Sri Lanka is going through one of it's biggest crisis ever. The currency has no power so it's extremely difficult to import something as basic as fuel and gas. People make massive lines in order to get them, and many times they go back with empty hands. People now cook with kerosene instead of gas since that is the only other available option. People are too poor to by electric cookers. In this photo we see a man telling a woman that there is no more kerosene and points at the massive line trying to explain her, with the look of disapointment on her face. Kerosene is needed for cooking. In addition, there are power cuts every day up to 14 hours (!) so even if you have an electronic cooker you can't use it. People have to cook with kerosene, but there is also none of it, so the desperation is very high. This photo was taken in a very touristic city called Galle.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2022
Date Uploaded: 09.2022
Photo Location: Galle, Sri Lanka
Camera: NIKON D5
Copyright: © Marcos Sobral