Where there is water there is life

Resilience in an ancient oasis

EGYPT | Thursday, 10 January 2013 | Views [493]

All appears calm as Mohamed and Fathi sip mint tea by Abu Sharuf spring and reflect on their olive and date business. Since ancient Egyptian times, their families have lived and worked in Siwa but with a crumbling Egyptian economy and rising salinity levels, in an oasis 17 meters below sea level, these two cousins have a lot on their minds.

Tags: siwa oasis, egypt

In her last week of pregnancy, Besma spends her mornings kneading and baking bread to supply to a local hotel. She leaves her fate to Allah, saying “Insha Allah (if God is willing) I will give birth at home.” Home births are common in Siwa Oasis but if there are any complications, women face a long and crowded bus trip through the desert to the closest maternity hospital.

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After her daughter returns from school, Aya enjoys one of her greatest pleasures, an afternoon stroll in the desert. For her and her child, these simple moments are golden as both suffer from chronic heart conditions. Aya, who sews traditional Siwan garments for a living, often has to wait dangerously long periods until she has enough money for blood transfusions, specialist appointments and medicines.

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Where there is water there is life

Resilience in an ancient oasis

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