Feb 24 β€’ 17:36 UTC πŸ‡ΆπŸ‡¦ Qatar Al Jazeera

A documentary reveals the struggle for survival in Chinguetti: Drought and sand threaten the city of heritage and manuscripts

A documentary discusses the ongoing battle of Chinguetti's residents against desertification and drought.

The documentary titled "Chinguetti: The Last Battle" captures the struggle of residents in the Mauritanian city of Chinguetti as they confront the dire consequences of desertification and drought. Through evocative testimonies from local people, historians, and activists, the film highlights urgent calls for intervention to preserve the city's rich heritage and historical manuscripts, which are at risk of being lost forever due to the advancing sands.

Residents share that the challenges they face have transcended a natural phenomenon into an existential threat, as the encroachment of sands grows more severe each year. Many families have resorted to primitive methods in their daily battle to halt the advancing desert, emphasizing that ignoring the situation could lead to the complete loss of their beloved city. While some inhabitants feel a sense of hopelessness due to the slow response from authorities, others continue to hold onto resilience, refusing to surrender to the unfolding crisis.

The documentary also recounts how Chinguetti was once flourishing with palm trees and agriculture, a stark contrast to the present, where water scarcity has led to the deterioration of local farms and forced many to migrate to coastal cities in search of better opportunities. Despite the prevailing sense of despair, there is a collective determination among residents to resist and find solutions to preserve their homeland's rich cultural legacy and environment.

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