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Posted: July 8, 2009 |
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Once lush grazing land, the Azawak valley in western Niger now consists of mostly sand, thorns and animal excrement. Quality of life is tied to the rainy season, and during dry spells, families spend much of their time in search of water. Photojournalist Laurel Lundstrom visited the area to document the residents' life.
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| Carrying Water |
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| The Azawak region is about the size of Florida and lies mostly in western Niger and part in Mali and has about 500,000 residents. A sand road leads from the nearest city, Abalak, to water boreholes drilled by UNICEF in 2008. Residents, including young girls, sometimes travel up to 35 miles to find water for their families. |
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| Photo Credit: Laurel Lundstrom |
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