Photo essay showing the impact of drought on children in Basra, Iraq.
BASRA, IRAQ, 23 November 2023 – Children living in one of the hottest places on earth say rising heat and water shortages are impacting their lives daily, with award-winning photographer Emily Garthwaite documenting their stories ahead of the COP28 summit.
Children living on the frontline of the climate crisis in southern Iraq’s governorate of Basra explain how drought and heatwaves on top of decades of conflict have forced their families to abandon farming after generations and how they fear for their futures.
WE STAND SIDE BY SIDE WITH CHILDREN IN THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST PLACES.
Emily Garthwaite travelled to Basra to meet children and families whose livelihoods have been affected and to find out how they are coping.
Iraq is the fifth most vulnerable country to water and food shortages and extreme temperatures, according to the United Nations. Drought has destroyed farmland in rural areas like the Abu Al-Khaseeb district in Basra, leaving communities with no income. As the drought worsens, more livestock — often a crucially important source of income for rural families — fall ill and die, forcing thousands of people to be displaced multiple times.
More than 130,000 families have been displaced in Iraq as a result of drought, according to the International Organisation for Migration. Projections show that Iraq is expected to be the ‘hottest’ country in the region by 2050, with average temperature exceeding 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
Families in southern Iraq have faced a combination of shocks over the years including an environment damaged by years of conflict and the impacts of climate change such as rising sea levels, sandstorms, heatwaves and droughts. This ‘perfect storm’ has impacted the quality of life of thousands of children. Child poverty rates are significantly higher in rural areas where children dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods are disproportionately affected by risks such as child labour. About 10% of children between 5-14 years old in these areas are engaged in child labour, as opposed to 30% in urban areas. The number is set to rise as a result of climate displacement and crop failure.
These are the stories of three families trying to adapt to the climate crisis in Iraq.
Ahmed’s* story: “If our animals continue to die, I might have to drop out of school.”
Ahmed*, 14, lives in Abu Al-Khaseeb with his family of five. His family has been displaced twice: first due to armed conflict in the 1990s and more recently due to the climate crisis. They originally worked in agriculture and livestock, but Ahmed’s* father said their animals died due to the intrusion of salt water into their lands, which also damaged their date palms, okras and other crops. The family hasn’t cultivated their lands for two years and is now struggling to make ends meet.
Ahmed* said:
“I’m worried about my future. If this situation continues, I might have to drop out of school to support my family. My dream is to become an engineer, fix the water issue and build houses for the poor.”
Wassan’s* story: “We used to plant dates and pomegranates, but now they’re all gone.”