The desert makes up about 90% of Mauritania's area and is therefore particularly vulnerable to the effects of long droughts and poor rainfall.

For civilians, these natural disasters can be life-threatening, and currently approximately 17% of the population lives below the extreme poverty line, with one to four children living in extreme poverty.

In an article published by the American magazine "Newsweek", the writer Fadumo Abdelkader describes how the yellowish-red sand is about to flood the houses in the town of Takallet in Mauritania, where life has become harsh in northwest Africa, and the unpredictability of the climate crisis had devastating effects for many, From the displacement of families and the destruction of livelihoods to the health and mental impact.

Big problem in Africa

The writer mentioned that desertification - the process of turning fertile land into desert - is a major problem across Africa.

Currently, desertification has reached 45% of the land area in Africa, and Mauritania is seriously affected by climate change and desertification.

45% of the land area in Africa has reached desertification (French)

Many Mauritanians depend on natural resources for their livelihoods, and desertification has severely affected the country's economic development, as climate change further impoverishes vulnerable communities.

The writer touched on the story of Kumba Ibrahim from the town of Takallet, who told her how she left her village after the sand flooded their house and moved to a new village in the hope of escaping from the sands of the Sahara Desert, but the regular removals of the sand that require muscle strength affect her body, causing her aches that leave her sleepless nights Her hands are covered in dark spots from the constant sweeping of the hot sand, scars that are a poignant visual reminder of her struggle.

“This is life in Mauritania,” says Kumba. “Its situation is just as appalling as the rest of her community. The impact of desertification is destroying her livelihood and her health, and there is little comfort in her struggle.”

Desertification is not alone

In addition to desertification, the writer mentioned that the local population must also face the water scarcity crisis, where fresh, clean and safe water is considered a luxury.

According to the World Health Organization, 2,150 Mauritanians die of diarrheal diseases annually, and most of these deaths (90%) are related to contaminated water, and those who live in remote villages find it more difficult to access clean water due to its scarcity.

Local people in Mauritania face water scarcity along with desertification (websites)

“The impacts of climate change are increasingly becoming a part of our daily lives, and there is very little support available for the mental health of people and communities dealing with climate and long-term risks,” said Maria Neira, Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization.

As for the Mauritanian, Fatima Ahmed, she says that she is constantly worried about the safety of her children, because 3 of her four children have been blind since birth, and she believes that the intense heat and sandstorms are exacerbating their health condition. She is worried about their future if the situation does not improve.

This concern is justified by the one-room house made of corrugated metal sheets, while the weather was stifling in the Sahara desert, and despite the deterioration of her family's health condition, she is still grateful that she has a home, and hopes that her home and possessions will not disappear under the constantly moving sand, where Fatima's house is among the Many uninhabitable homes are in erosion.

In turn, Amina Mohamed, Deputy Mayor of El Takallet - who took the writer on a tour around the village - points to the threat that desertification poses to food, housing and the health of the population, saying, "Desertification has affected the residents of Takallet, and many homes are unlivable, and people have decided to leave The village is due to lack of water and income. They are moving to the capital, Nouakchott, to start a new life. Many lives have been destroyed, while I watch another village disappear under the sand.”

Climate change is the most important factor for desertification, but the fact that human activities are also partly responsible (French) cannot be ignored.

Climate change and human activities

While climate change is the most important factor for desertification, the fact that human activities are also partly responsible cannot be ignored. Deforestation is common in Mauritania, and with increasing poverty people are turning to alternative sources of income.

According to the World Forestry Watch, from 2001 to 2021 Mauritania lost about 33 hectares of tree area.

Locals illegally chop down trees and burn them in the hope of getting charcoal. For them, charcoal is a source of income and their way of survival, but many do not realize the effects of logging on the environment and how this exacerbates desertification, and in Nouakchott the problem was addressed. Cutting down trees by installing barriers and securing guards to protect the planted trees.

The Great Green Wall project, launched in 2007, aims to restore degraded landscapes and combat desertification across the African Sahel. The initiative aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land and create 10 million green jobs by 2030.

The Great Green Wall aims to restore 100 million hectares of land and create 10 million jobs (Great Green Wall)

Currently, the project is only 15% complete, and while the Great Green Wall initiative aims to prevent desertification, people like Kumba and Fatima who are facing the rigors of climate change need support now.