Masuda Sultan in Kandahar. Jon Alpert

Masuda Sultan a young Afghan-American woman based in New York, went to Kandahar after the attack on the World Trade Center and the American bombing of Afghanistan. Her family had sought refuge in the village of Chowkar-karez outside Kandahar, but on 22nd October 2001, it was bombed and nineteen relatives killed. Masuda went to Afghanistan to find out what happened.

In December 2001, Masuda travelled first to Quetta, Pakistan where she delivered aid to Kandahari refugees. She then crossed into Afghanistan and went to Kandahar, the former stronghold of the Taliban and the place she left when she was five years old. Her main destination was the village of Chowkar-karez, 60 miles north of Kandahar, the scene of a US air attack in which 41 civilians were killed including 19 of Masuda's relatives. She met up with surviving relatives and also quizzed US Army spokesmen in Kandahar about why the village had been attacked.

It was an emotional journey which left Masuda committed to continuing to help Afghans rebuild their homes and enjoy a better life.