UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

05/03/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/04/2024 15:32

Shades of Azraq Reserve: Environment and Journalism Echoes

UNESCO

(Image: The fence surrounding the Azraq Wetland Reserve to prevent encroachments)

By: Ezz El-Deen Al-Natour.

During my 2022 documentary filming at the Azraq Oasis, I met a resident who had witnessed the major transformations of the oasis, with only 10% of its 1980s extent remaining. When asked what he missed most about old Azraq, he replied, "I miss swimming in the oasis waters," and after a pause, he added, "I regret not teaching my children to swim there!"

Initially, I didn't understand the reason for his deep regret. For me, growing up and living in the city, swimming seemed like just a summer recreational activity practiced in clubs or hotel pools. However, as days went by and I interacted with others from the oasis, I began to realize the depth of their feelings. Swimming was a vital skill for them; the oasis, covering about 20 km2, was an essential source of food and transportation, especially when fishing was relied upon.

These personal stories and emotions led me to appreciate that environmental changes do more than strip communities of elements of their identity; they also impose harsh challenges on them.. These experiences have reshaped my approach to environmental journalism and prompted me to consider the role that journalists should play in addressing these pressing issues but also impose significant challenges on them.

These personal stories and emotions led me to appreciate that environmental changes do more than strip communities of elements of their identity; they also impose harsh challenges. These experiences have reshaped my approach to environmental journalism and prompted me to consider the role that journalists should play in addressing these pressing issues.

These stories and emotions inspired me to realize how environmental changes not only deprive individuals and communities of parts of their identity but also impose severe challenges that may seem insurmountable. These experiences have transformed how I approach environmental topics and have raised questions about the role that journalism should play in covering these issues.

(Image: Journalist Ezz El-Deen Al-Natour during his work in Azraq)

Witnessing Change: The Environmental and Social Shifts of Azraq

The Azraq Oasis stands as a living witness to the major environmental challenges facing Jordan amid rapid climate change. Located about 110 kilometres north of Amman, in the heart of the Eastern Desert, this ancient town has historically served as a passage and rest stop for trade caravans traveling through Jordan. It has also welcomed waves of refugees from Chechnya, the Druze, and, more recently, Syrians. Azraq is renowned for its unique desert oasis, which has faced significant environmental challenges since the 1980s, altering its nature and imposing economic and social challenges on its inhabitants.

During that period, while Jordanian cities were being supplied with 60 million cubic meters of water annually pumped from the Azraq Basin, the oasis began gradually losing its water and plant resources. By 1992, it had lost about 99.6% of its water and plant cover, leading to a severe deterioration of the ecosystem. Excessive pumping, coupled with rising temperatures, drought, and fluctuating rainfall, exacerbated the environmental challenges facing the oasis.

UNESCO

(Image: Samdah holding a set of photos documenting what life was like in Azraq)

Mohammad Samdah, a Chechen elder in Azraq, was born there in 1945 and witnessed these changes over the years. Samdah says, "Azraq was a paradise, with water pools stretching over an area of 20 km2, stunning nature, an oasis in the middle of the desert where people lived off its bounty. Our lives were simple and beautiful; the oasis and the pools were our source of strength. Fish, buffalo, and cows were abundant, and we lived of them. We didn't farm because the land was salty, but we had everything we needed."