Saharan Amazigh Tribes and the fight for survival
The nomadic communities in the Sahara Desert are resilient groups despite their life circumstances. Unlike other citizens, the mostly native Amazigh people suffer from resource scarcity, lack of access to healthcare, and now, the effects of climate change. Traditional nomadic communities are groups of small families that have no permanency. Given their frequent travel and movement, there are no designated schools or educational interventions for these individuals. There is no infrastructure in the desert, and Amazigh families often send their children away to the closest towns for formal schooling. There is no hospital or traveling clinic to treat the sick. Though these families have roamed the sand dunes for centuries, due to Morocco's conflict with Algeria, their land access has been restricted. These days, full access to the bordering Atlas Mountains, where water and forage are in abundance for the region, has been denied.
From
our time with a nomadic Amazigh family, we learned Saharan Amazigh Tribes are self-sustaining
and raise their own small hordes of goats or sheep. Housing in these communities
consists of makeshift shelters to provide refuge from the blazing hot sun. The Saharan
Amazigh don’t have permanent homes, running water, or electricity. As a tribe, they often travel every three to six months chasing the little rain that does
come to the region. The rain provides water for cooking and drinking and allows
for native plants to grow and feed the livestock. Despite lacking resources,
public infrastructure, and government intervention, the tribes find ways to
survive. Climate change and politics have made things difficult, but the Saharan
Amazigh Tribesmen have found ways to compensate for lost water and land. Despite the
challenges, the Saharan Amazigh persevere.
Geo, I appreciate you bringing attention to how climate change and politics have impacted the Amazigh tribes’ way of life. This may be evidence of systems failure as there way of life has had little impact on the environment and political relations in comparison to those who live in more urban areas. I wondered what restrictions were placed on where these nomads could move within Morocco, but I had not considered what their movement looked like beyond the political borders of the country. It is my understanding that these nomadic practices took place long before the establishment of the current political landscape. I would think that Morocco, Algeria, and other relevant governments would recognize and respect these traditions enough to allow these people to live with the land; much in the same ways they have done in the past. Who could advocate for these people? What type of solutions could be developed to ensure the people having the least impact on climate and political relations are not the ones being impacted the most by these issues? These are a few of the questions that come to mind when I think about the interconnectedness of their experience.
ReplyDelete