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'Drought is not a matter of Fate' – The quest for water in Mauritania

pkJuly 13, 2009

Less than one percent of Mauritania's surface area is arable land. Low rainfall, deforestation, soil erosion and desertification all contribute to the hard life of Mauritania's farmers.

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People walking through deserted land
Searching for arable land: People in MauritaniaImage: Dronne

'Drought is not simply our inevitable destiny,' says Cheikh Abdellahai, Vice President of the environmental protection agency, AMPEMN. 'Like any other people in the world, Mauritanians have always adapted themselves to their environment. So if drought is not a prerequisite then we can do something about it. We could improve our quality of life – we could for example construct artificial oases in the desert.'

Cheikh Abdellahib knows what he is talking about. Since the 1970s he and his colleagues have been leading a campaign to combat the effects of drought in Mauritania. They plant trees in sandy areas to stop the desert from spreading. They cultivate arable land to be able to plant fruit and vegetables. And they support local communities in building facilities to catch and store water to enable them to saturate parts of the dry earth.

Forced migration because of water scarcity

A family standing in a big tent
Fleeing to the cities after bad droughts: NomadsImage: Deidi von Schaewen

Mauritania has a hot, dry climate and although it is three times the size of Germany it has a population of only three million. The Sahara stretches deep into the country and a large percentage of the population has since moved to the cities - a result of the infertile land and inhospitable rural conditions. In 1970 and 1984 two particularly bad droughts caused a massive migratory movement. The nomadic population fled to the cities in desperation - and then stayed. The state support system at the time was almost non-existent, says Cheikh Abdellahi. 'Politicians gave fiery speeches. But in the end nothing was done. Lately, politicians do seem to be developing a consciousness of environmental problems; there is even a state secretary for the environment. I hope that actual environmental strategies emerge from this.'

Every drop counts

A camel in the lonely desert
Destroys arable land: Desertification is a big problemImage: DW

Despite the emerging change in government mentality towards environmental protection, initiatives against soil erosion and desertification are still rare. Water shortage continues to be the biggest challenge facing the population. In some areas rainfall is less than 50mm a year. Against overwhelming odds, Mauritanians have not given up in their quest for water. For the Mauritanians this battle is not just about environmentalism, they are fighting for survival. Recent initiatives are starting to show signs of success, proving that drought is not an inevitable cycle. There is a chance that it can be beaten.