Zamzam, 3, poses for a portrait in an IDP camp in the Oodweyne district of Somaliland, Somalia, Feb. 28, 2023. The de-facto nation of Somaliland and the wider Horn of Africa is suffering from a severe drought that has led to widespread malnutrition and massive livestock loss.
Halim Sbai looks into a dry well near the house he grew up in, M'Hamid El Ghizlane, March 26, 2019. The house was surrounded by lush fields when he was a child, but the fields have since turned into desert. Sbai is an acticvist trying to save the oasis habitat of M'Hamid. Over the past century, a third of Moroccan oasis habitats have disappeared. Rising temperatures, deepening drought, and spreading desertification are undermining the water sources on which oases depend. The problem has affected the entire Maghreb and has accelerated over the past years.
A crust of salt on soil seen in the oasis of M'hamid El Ghizlane, Morocco, March, 25, 2019. Receeding groundwater exacerbates the problem of saltification. Over the past century, a third of Moroccan oasis habitats have disappeared. Rising temperatures, deepening drought, and spreading desertification are undermining the water sources on which oases depend. The problem has affected the entire Maghreb and has accelerated over the past years.
Fishermen seen in the Mesopotamian Marshes near Al Chubayish, Iraq, Aug. 15, 2022. Fish stocks have plummeted here. Fishers say, they could previously fish up to 100 kg a day and now it is down to 10 or less. Due to Iran and Turkey limiting or stopping waterflow to Iraq, ineffecient watering in northern parts of Iraq and climate change, the marshes are rapidly loosing water and have reached lowest levels since Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein drained the marshes in the early 1990ies.
Falah Zrair, 39, watches over his buffaloes in the Mesopotamian Marshes, Ishan Halab, Iraq, Aug. 15, 2022. Due to Iran and Turkey limiting or stopping waterflow to Iraq, ineffecient watering in northern parts of Iraq and climate change, the marshes are rapidly loosing water and have reached lowest levels since Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein drained the marshes in the early 1990ies.
Villagers pushed an ailing water buffaloe into a puddle in the mostly dried out Mesopotamian Marshes, Ishan Halab, Iraq, Aug. 15, 2022. Due to Iran and Turkey limiting or stopping waterflow to Iraq, ineffecient watering in northern parts of Iraq and climate change, the marshes are rapidly loosing water and have reached lowest levels since Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein drained the marshes in the early 1990ies.
Burhan, one of teh children of Falah Zrair, wakes up next to the family's hut in the Mesopotamian Marshes, Ishan Halab, Iraq, Aug. 16, 2022. Due to Iran and Turkey limiting or stopping waterflow to Iraq, ineffecient watering in northern parts of Iraq and climate change, the marshes are rapidly loosing water and have reached lowest levels since Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein drained the marshes in the early 1990ies.
Jahra Akhlati, 48, poses for a portrait in front of the last buffalos he has left next to his temporary hut outside Basra, Iraq, Aug. 18, 2022. He and his family were displaced from the drying Mesopotamian Marshes a month ago since his animals couldn't drink the highly salty water there anymore. Due to Iran and Turkey limiting or stopping waterflow to Iraq, ineffecient watering in northern parts of Iraq and climate change, the marshes are rapidly loosing water and have reached lowest levels since Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein drained the marshes in the early 1990ies.
Zeyneb Samir Al Bahar poses with her family's water buffaloes in the Mesopotamian Marshes, Al Dibn, Iraq, Aug. 16, 2022. Because of extreme heat, her family spends their time in a nearby village while she takes care of the animals. Due to Iran and Turkey limiting or stopping waterflow to Iraq, ineffecient watering in northern parts of Iraq and climate change, the marshes are rapidly loosing water and have reached lowest levels since Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein drained the marshes in the early 1990ies.
Water buffaloes seen in the dried-out Mesopotamian Marshes, Ishan Halab, Iraq, Aug. 15, 2022. Due to Iran and Turkey limiting or stopping waterflow to Iraq, ineffecient watering in northern parts of Iraq and climate change, the marshes are rapidly loosing water and have reached lowest levels since Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein drained the marshes in the early 1990ies.
Fishermen prepare nets in the fishing port of Berbera, Somaliland, Nov. 3, 2021. Since a devastating drought hit the de-facto country in 2017 and killed much of the livestock, its government has been trying to develop the fledgeling fishing industry. Most fishermen, especially lower ranks, are former nomadic herders.
An IDP camp in Oodweyne district of Somaliland, Somalia, Feb. 28, 2023. The de-facto nation of Somaliland and the wider Horn of Africa is suffering from a severe drought that has led to widespread malnutrition and massive livestock loss.
Ruun Geedi Ali eats ice cream donated by a community leader in an IDP camp in the Oodweyne district of Somaliland, Somalia, March 1, 2023. The de-facto nation of Somaliland and the wider Horn of Africa is suffering from a severe drought that has led to widespread malnutrition and massive livestock loss.
A camel meat stall seen in an IDP camp in Oodweyne district of Somaliland, Somalia, Feb. 28, 2023. The de-facto nation of Somaliland and the wider Horn of Africa is suffering from a severe drought that has led to widespread malnutrition and massive livestock loss.
Hussein Adan (back) stands in the border village of Bali 'Abane, Somaliland, Somalia, March 3, 2023. He is umarried and lives with relatives. He moved to Bali 'Abane three months ago after losing all his livestock due to the ongoing drought. The de-facto nation of Somaliland and the wider Horn of Africa is suffering from a severe drought that has led to widespread malnutrition and massive livestock loss.
Shadia, 7, who was born with omne arm, seen in an IDP camp in Oodweyne district of Somaliland, Somalia, Feb. 28, 2023. The de-facto nation of Somaliland and the wider Horn of Africa is suffering from a severe drought that has led to widespread malnutrition and massive livestock loss.