I don’t want my Father to go!
By Jonathan Bundu
"When the drought gets worse, my father will have to leave with the cattle. We will have only our mother to fend for us," says eight-year-old Kadjata Boye. Mahmoud Kadjata explains, however, that not going, and risking losing the family’s cattle would be catastrophic. Then, they would really have nothing – nothing to sell when the worst hits.
"When the drought gets worse, my father will have to leave with the cattle. We will have only our mother to fend for us," says eight-year-old Kadjata Boye.
Eyes red, Kadjata is standing close to her family’s hut in Beleel Koyle village (Boghe district). She doesn’t go to a formal school, but instead to a local Islamic school – a Madrasa where she learns the Koran. Her village does not have even basic facilities – a school, a health clinic, safe water. The nearest clinic is 17 km away; and the nearest water points at four or five kilometres.
But Kadjata’s biggest worry – and that of the other 300 people in her village - is the consequences of the recent drought.
The questions of ‘what to do?’, ‘how are we going to cope?’ are daily subjects for the villagers.
The answers and suspected solutions revolve around a key theme as explained by Aminata Boye, Kadjata’s mother:
“Soon, all the men will leave the village to look for pasture land and water points,” she says.
“When the drought gets worse, my father will leave with the cattle. We will have only our mother to fend for us,” echoes Kadjata, and she suddenly turns away, twitching her hands.
It is a worry for the mother too, who asks – directing more the question to herself, “How am I going to look after these kids when there has been a poor harvest, and the food prices are sky rocketing in the market?”
Mahmoud Kadjata explains, however, that not going, and risking losing the family’s cattle would be catastrophic. Then, they would really have nothing – nothing to sell when the worst hits.
Families rely heavily on cattle rearing here as it’s a secure source of milk, meat and cash, when needed.
Mahmoud says he has to leave, even if this is upsetting his family, and he’ll be missed.
But they can see no other option.
Elsewhere in Mauritania, fathers such as Mahmoud or entire families have already started their journey in search of pastures, leaving their homes or families behind.
About 678,000 people are affected by the food and nutrition crisis in Mauritania, which is worsening day by day.
Eyes red, Kadjata is standing close to her family’s hut in Beleel Koyle village (Boghe district). She doesn’t go to a formal school, but instead to a local Islamic school – a Madrasa where she learns the Koran. Her village does not have even basic facilities – a school, a health clinic, safe water. The nearest clinic is 17 km away; and the nearest water points at four or five kilometres.
But Kadjata’s biggest worry – and that of the other 300 people in her village - is the consequences of the recent drought.
The questions of ‘what to do?’, ‘how are we going to cope?’ are daily subjects for the villagers.
The answers and suspected solutions revolve around a key theme as explained by Aminata Boye, Kadjata’s mother:
“Soon, all the men will leave the village to look for pasture land and water points,” she says.
“When the drought gets worse, my father will leave with the cattle. We will have only our mother to fend for us,” echoes Kadjata, and she suddenly turns away, twitching her hands.
It is a worry for the mother too, who asks – directing more the question to herself, “How am I going to look after these kids when there has been a poor harvest, and the food prices are sky rocketing in the market?”
Mahmoud Kadjata explains, however, that not going, and risking losing the family’s cattle would be catastrophic. Then, they would really have nothing – nothing to sell when the worst hits.
Families rely heavily on cattle rearing here as it’s a secure source of milk, meat and cash, when needed.
Mahmoud says he has to leave, even if this is upsetting his family, and he’ll be missed.
But they can see no other option.
Elsewhere in Mauritania, fathers such as Mahmoud or entire families have already started their journey in search of pastures, leaving their homes or families behind.
About 678,000 people are affected by the food and nutrition crisis in Mauritania, which is worsening day by day.
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