Why It Matters

In 1922 the American Women's Hospitals (AWH) established services on Macronissi to care for the refugees from Smyrna. The photograph of a young woman weighing the day’s food ration outside a tent illustrates the harsh conditions of the refugee settlement and the meager food available. The AWH photographed the refugee situation in order to document the severity and scope of the crisis, and the AWH’s role in alleviating it. AWH published photographs like this to raise awareness in America about what was happening, and to appeal for more money and support to continue their work among the refugees and improve conditions.