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Save the Children's Action 2015: Felicity McCabe’s photographs reveal the effects of climate change in Somaliland

McCabe’s images depict life in the village of Gargara, where drought has killed off most of its livestock

Friday 04 December 2015 23:49 GMT
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Hassan Haji Tawakal, 80, the village elder: “My wealth has been destroyed”
Hassan Haji Tawakal, 80, the village elder: “My wealth has been destroyed” (Felicity McCabe/Save the Children)

When politicians discuss climate change, it is because of what is happening in places like Somaliland in the Horn of Africa.

Felicity McCabe’s photographs, part of Save the Children’s “action/2015” project, depict life in the village of Gargara, where drought has killed off most of its livestock.

The failure of seasonal rains and the subsequent droughts throughout the past two years have affected more than 240,000 people, seriously threatening the population's access to clean safe water, their livelihoods, and causing child malnutrition rates to rise at an alarming rate.

The water shortage and rapidly drying pasture in the drought-stricken regions has led to an estimated 35 to 40 pe rcent loss of livestock, jeopardising the livelihoods of pastoralists who make up around 55 per cent of the population.

Hassan, pictured top, the village elder who is 80, says: “I try to sort out minor problems. But I don’t have any answers.”

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