Tunisians leave their farms behind as drought and economic collapse push migration
With severe drought and economic instability driving migration, Tunisians like Salih Barqoushi are being forced to leave their farms behind in search of better opportunities, as water scarcity leaves little choice for survival.
Taylor Luck and Erika Page report for The Christian Science Monitor.
In short:
- Tunisia’s severe drought and water shortages are making farming nearly impossible, forcing many farmers to leave their land.
- Climate change, economic instability, and political mismanagement are driving migration from rural Tunisia to cities and even Europe.
- Many young Tunisians see no future in their homeland, opting to risk dangerous migration routes for a chance at a better life.
Key quote:
“Even when we irrigate, it is still not enough to keep up with the hot temperatures. Our trees need more water than ever before at a time our water has never been less.”
— Mr. Al Hur, Tunisian farmer
Why this matters:
Tunisia isn’t an outlier. Experts warn that it represents a larger pattern already playing out across the globe. As water supplies dwindle and heatwaves intensify, climate refugees will increasingly outnumber those fleeing war or persecution. Read more: Poor southerners are joining the globe’s climate migrants.
