Award-Winning War Correspondent Kim Sengupta of The Independent Dies

Kim Sengupta, the acclaimed war correspondent renowned for covering every major conflict over the past three decades, has passed away at the age of 68.

With a career spanning over 40 years, including stints at the Daily Mail and Today, Kim cemented his legacy at The Independent as one of Britain’s top on-the-ground reporters. He reported from numerous countries and conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, the Balkans, Ukraine, Georgia, Kosovo, Mali, Sudan, Somalia, Kashmir, Israel, Gaza, and Northern Ireland.

Kim’s unique ability to connect with people made his contact book enviable, enabling him to navigate places and situations that were otherwise inaccessible.

A prime example of his dedication was during the Syrian civil war in 2012, where he was the only international reporter in Aleppo when Bashar al-Assad’s forces launched an offensive against the main opposition stronghold. His reporting from Syria earned him a finalist spot for the Orwell Prize for journalism the following year.

Syria was not the only country Kim repeatedly reported from; he also visited Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Israel multiple times. In the last few years, he focused on Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Gaza, drawing from his extensive experience.

Kim was present in eastern Ukraine as Russian special forces helped Moscow-backed separatists seize territory, leading to the annexation of Crimea by Vladimir Putin. When Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Kim was there to document the immense human suffering. He traveled war-torn roads and reported on the lives disrupted by the conflict, giving a voice to Ukrainians fighting against Putin’s aggression.

Kim witnessed Afghanistan’s rebirth in 2001 when the Taliban was overthrown, and later chronicled the violent chaos at Kabul’s fall as the Taliban returned. His reports captured harrowing scenes of people being crushed in their desperate rush to leave the country or falling from departing planes.

He also covered Israel and the occupied West Bank during Israel’s war in Gaza following the October 7 attack by Hamas. Having covered every Israel-Gaza conflict in the 21st century, mostly from within Gaza, Kim’s reports conveyed the raw emotions and anguish of both Israelis and Palestinians as casualties climbed to unprecedented levels.

Kim’s dedication knew no geographical bounds. From the war in Iraq and the Arab Spring to the fall of Gaddafi in Libya, the Islamist insurgency in Mali, and the rise and fall of ISIS in Iraq and Syria. He also reported on the death of Nelson Mandela, the fall of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, elections in Iran, and the potential threat of China invading Taiwan.

His exceptional work earned him multiple nominations for foreign correspondent and journalist of the year at the British Journalism Awards and the Press Awards, including three nominations for the Orwell Prize for journalism. He was also named journalist of the year at the Asian Media Awards.

Beyond the front lines, Kim excelled in military and security reporting. As a long-time defence correspondent and later defence and diplomatic editor, his expertise led to exclusive stories, including revelations about the dossier compiled by former MI6 agent Christopher Steele on Donald Trump.

Admiral Lord West of Spithead, former First Sea Lord, paid tribute, recalling Kim’s dedication and formidable investigative skills: “He took risks to ensure he got the stories he felt were important. He was quick to reach the heart of the matter and never let me down even when privy to amazing things.”

General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of Joint Forces Command, added: “Kim had a razor-sharp sense for a scoop and never shied away from painful truths. He was deeply interested in the lot of those who serve in harm’s way for their country.”

Kim joined The Independent in 1996, and his sense of humor was evident even in the gravest situations. Once, in a Baghdad hotel in 2005, a blast wave from a suicide bomb shattered glass over him, yet he emerged with only minor injuries and a lighter perspective on the close call.

Geordie Greig, editor-in-chief of The Independent, said: “The sudden death of Kim Sengupta is a devastating loss for journalism. He courageously covered countless conflicts, living and working with a remarkable fervor.”

Chris Blackhurst, a former editor at The Independent, remembered Kim’s fearlessness and unfaltering dedication, stating, “Kim was one of a kind. He had an extraordinary knack for talking to anyone, be they ambassadors, generals, or privates, and extracting information from them.”

Kim Sengupta’s legacy as a relentless and empathetic war correspondent will be remembered by many.

Source: Kim Sengupta