What You Need to Know
In Chad’s Kanem region, the Kaou oasis is at risk from advancing sand dunes, exacerbated by climate change. Local populations, reliant on this oasis for water and food, are struggling to adapt as vegetation disappears. Despite some support for sustainable practices, the future of these communities remains uncertain as they face the dual threats of desertification and lack of ongoing assistance.
Africa. The Guardian journalist Julie Bourdain reports that the Kaou oasis in Chad’s Kanem region appears as a green island amidst a sea of barren sand, but it now faces the threat of extinction as moving sand dunes encroach upon it.
She notes that these oases, historically a source of life for people in the Sahara, are rapidly disappearing in Chad, where temperatures are rising at nearly twice the global average, making the country one of the most vulnerable to climate collapse.
Bourdain explains that local residents remember a different past; the valley was once filled with trees, pastures, and livestock, but the hot, dry climate has decimated most of the vegetation, while strong winds push sand toward the valley.
Local leader Mohamed Suleiman Issa emphasizes that the survival of the inhabitants is tied to the valley, as it represents their only source of water and food.
Bourdain adds that over 500 families depend on the Kaou oasis, with about 100 farmers growing simple crops and harvesting dates from the remaining palm trees.
The residents are attempting to combat the encroaching sand by building barriers from palm fronds. In 2023, the organization “Souss du Sahel” assisted them in establishing a solar-powered irrigation system and training them in new agricultural techniques, but funding ceased after just six months, leaving them to face the danger alone.
Bourdain quotes Herita Abkar Issa, a mother of seven, stating that they have begun growing vegetables they had never known before, such as okra and tomatoes, but she confirms that the sand threatens the valley from all sides, and if it disappears, they will be forced to leave.
The harsh conditions have driven most young people to migrate to gold mines in the Tibesti region to the north, where they face exploitation, forced labor, and health risks.
Some of these youths returned briefly after the “Souss du Sahel” project began, but it quickly halted, prompting them to return to the mines, reflecting the fragility of survival opportunities in the villages.
Bourdain highlights that the experience of the neighboring Parkadros oasis demonstrates the success of sustainable support; a solar water pump installed in 2014 continues to support over 300 farmers and provides food for around 3,000 people, with fields of onions, lettuce, and millet surrounding a turquoise lake and palm and banana groves, proving that long-term investment can preserve oases and prevent displacement.
She concludes her report with the testimony of Omar Issa, who worked for five years in gold mines before returning to his village after hearing about the “Souss du Sahel” projects.
However, he states that the cessation of programs in 2023 may push him back to the mines, and he fears that his children will have to leave if the oasis continues to shrink.
Thus, the future of these desert communities remains suspended between encroaching sands and the absence of ongoing support.
Historically, oases in the Sahara have been vital for human survival, providing water and sustenance in an otherwise arid landscape. However, climate change has intensified the challenges faced by these regions, with rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns leading to increased desertification and loss of arable land. The situation in Chad exemplifies the broader struggles of communities in the Sahara as they navigate the impacts of environmental change.
Efforts to combat desertification have included initiatives to promote sustainable agriculture and water management. However, these programs often face funding challenges and may not provide long-term solutions.
