The Fuel Carriers of Sistan and Baluchistan

In the province widely considered the most deprived in Iran, an untold number of young men drop out of school early in order to earn a crust for their families by conveying fuel by motorbike from Iran to Pakistan. Often incorrectly called "smugglers", these mostly Baluchi drivers are generally in their 20s and 30s and face all manner of dangers on the road, from bandits to being shot at by border guards. A group of fuel carriers posed with their bikes for portraits by Middle East Images, and almost all of them said they earned on average $10 a week. Several said they used to work at farms and cafes, but drought and food price hikes had put an end to that, compelling them to take up this difficult job.

Photos by Middle East Images