Once Thriving Libyan Village Faces Exodus Due to Climate Crisis
June 17, 2024 Middle East
In the heart of Libya's Nafusa Mountains, a once-lush village named Kabaw struggles to survive. M'hamed Maakaf, a local resident, tends to a withering fig tree, a symbol of the devastation wrought by climate change. Fields that once flourished with figs, olives, and almonds are now barren wastelands, ravaged by drought.
Maakaf, 65, remembers a time, "until the beginning of the millennium," when Kabaw was "green and prosperous." Now, the scorching sun and relentless winds have choked the land, leaving behind a landscape parched and desperate.
Kabaw, primarily inhabited by the Amazigh people, a non-Arab minority, is just one of many Nafusa Mountain villages bearing the brunt of a changing climate. The mountainous region, already at a disadvantage with limited rainfall, now faces temperatures far exceeding seasonal norms. Water scarcity is a constant threat in Libya, where 95% of the land is desert, according to the United Nations.
The situation is particularly dire in the Nafusa Mountains, where annual precipitation in coastal areas has plummeted from 400 millimeters in 2019 to just 200 millimeters today. This, coupled with ever-increasing water demand, paints a bleak picture for the region's roughly half a million inhabitants.
Exodus from a Dying Land
Driven by water stress, villagers and their livestock are abandoning the Nafusa Mountains in droves, seeking refuge in the capital, Tripoli, and other coastal cities with more accessible water supplies.
Kabaw's mayor, Mourad Makhlouf, highlights the human cost of the crisis. "The drought isn't just about water scarcity or crops failing," he says. "Hundreds of families are leaving for the capital, creating a demographic and human crisis."
Suleiman Mohammed, a local farmer, fears that Kabaw may soon be deserted entirely. "Living without water is certain death," he says. With desperation etched on his face, he adds, "How can we be patient any longer? We're forced to sell our livestock because keeping them is too expensive."
Standing amidst a graveyard of dead olive trees, Maakaf mourns the loss of a rich heritage. "Some of these trees were 200 years old, passed down through generations," he laments.
A Glimmer of Hope, A Looming Crisis
Local authorities are attempting to mitigate the crisis by selling subsidized water at 25 Libyan dinars (around $5) per 12,000 liters. Tanker trucks ferry this precious resource, offering some lifeline to the struggling community. However, the high cost and limited availability remain significant hurdles.
Libya, despite its hydrocarbon wealth, faces a daunting future. The Great Man-Made River project, the country's primary water source, is no longer enough. This vast network of pipes, built under Muammar Qaddafi's regime, relies on depleting underground reserves and struggles to meet the growing demand.
The situation is only expected to worsen. The World Resources Institute predicts "extremely high" water stress for Libya by 2050. The World Bank warns the entire Middle East and North Africa region could face "absolute water scarcity" by 2030.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) emphasizes the need for a multifaceted approach. Water management strategies promoting equitable access and sustainable practices are crucial. Additionally, Libya must invest in climate-smart agriculture to conserve water and prevent desertification.
While Libya has signed international agreements on climate change, progress on disaster risk reduction and adaptation remains stalled due to ongoing political instability.
"The drought isn't just a problem for the Nafusa Mountains, it's a national crisis," says Mayor Makhlouf. "Libya desperately needs a relief plan, not just a solution, to help us adapt to this new reality."
Kabaw's struggle is a stark reminder of the human cost of climate change. The village's fate hangs in the balance, a cautionary tale for a region on the brink.