In the Moroccan village of Senanat, 15-year-old Yassine used to skip school.
He wasn’t an optional truant, missing classes because of a lack of interest in his education. Rather, he was forced to walk long distances to collect water for his family.
The nearest source of fresh water used to be 3km away in the form of a small well in a neighbouring village.
To fetch it, Yassine piled up plastic containers on to a donkey cart, filled each to the brim with water and trotted back. The 5,000-litre haul lasted two weeks, at which time he would need to do it all over again.
Morocco is in the grip of its worst drought in 40 years. Erratic rainfall for the past four years has emptied reservoirs and decimated agricultural production. Rainfall this year was 64 per cent below average.
The dry weather is accelerating a water crisis that has been unfolding for decades: in 1960, a Moroccan could count on access to 2,560 cubic metres of water per year. Today, that figure has shrunk to about 600 cubic metres. The UN defines “water scarcity” as less than 1,000 cubic metres per person.
The severity of the drought has underscored the North African kingdom’s vulnerability to climate change. A July World Bank report said economic growth would dip to 1.3 per cent in 2022 from 7.9 per cent a year earlier and cited water scarcity’s blow to farming as the leading cause.
With few good options, the government has rationed supplies. Some farmers have abandoned their fields, and wheat and barley production was down 67 per cent this year.
The royal palace said in February it would spend 10 billion dirhams ($1.07 billion) to support farmers and improve water management.
Digging deeper
Remote villages such as Senanat, in western Morocco’s Safi province, are among the hardest hit. The community of 170 families is 45km from a major city.
Like many rural areas, its residents have historically relied on simple, hand-dug wells that tap aquifers a few metres below the surface. But amid the drought, this easier-to-reach water is running dry.
With no fresh rainfall, the most immediate solution is to tap deeper sources of groundwater. That’s the aim of Maa wa Namaa — Arabic for “water and development” — a Moroccan NGO launched in 2020.
The NGO first identifies communities most in need of a well, then it collects donations and appoints geological engineers to assess the feasibility of a site.
Its volunteers use robotic drills that can reach aquifers 300 metres below ground, far deeper than the traditional wells that dot Morocco's countryside. Each well has a solar panel that can operate its pump for 25 years.
Redouane Moumouh, head of Maa wa Namaa, launched the project after he came across a village in December 2019 that was in dire shape.
Water was becoming so scarce that the village was emptying out, with more than half of its population having fled.
Mr Moumouh and a few others volunteered to help build a new well and, six months after it was finished, residents began to return.
Maa wa Namaa has since built about 100 new wells, said Mr Moumouh, bringing fresh water to more than 47,000 Moroccans.
Senanat’s new well was built in January 2021. Before that, villagers had to pay 180 dirhams ($16.50) for a canister that could last three days, said Kacem Fathi, head of a local development organisation that works in Senanat.
In rural areas, where the average salary is $250 a month, it’s a price that’s out of reach.
“I used to go to work without peace of mind, knowing that I was leaving my family behind to deal with the water problem,” said Redouane, Yassine’s father.
The new well is only 30 metres from Redouane and Yassine's home. What was once a several-hour trip now takes a few minutes, meaning Yassine no longer has to skip class.
Wells do come with risks. Their potential for peril was brought into sharp relief after the tragic death of five-year-old Rayan Orham, who slipped down a 32-metre shaft last February.
The incident grabbed global headlines and prompted Saudi Arabia to order 2,450 of its abandoned wells to be filled.
Morocco has since passed legislation that stipulates fines and even prison for building illegal wells that break safety standards. Maa wa Namaa says their wells are fitted with covers to minimise risk.
The wells provide relief, but they won’t solve Morocco’s water scarcity problem. Overuse can drain aquifers and further deplete water needed for irrigation.
One way to prevent this would be to equip the wells with meters that track how much is extracted, said Faisal Aziz, professor of water engineering at Cadi Ayyad University.
Better yet would be sensors that allow the government to monitor water usage from afar.
“The state should use advanced metres. This is where scientific research comes in. They can rely on remote sensors [to track water usage],” he said.
In the long run, Morocco will need new sources of water. The government said it plans to build 20 desalination plants by 2030 and invest in wastewater treatment to reuse water for agriculture.
For now, Maa wa Namaa’s wells provide breathing room.
“These initiatives need to be expanded throughout the rest of Morocco,” Redouane said of the new well.
“People are still going thirsty because of lack of water.”
This article has been published in collaboration with Egab
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
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SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Wimbledon order of play on Tuesday, July 11
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Centre Court
Adrian Mannarino v Novak Djokovic (2)
Venus Williams (10) v Jelena Ostapenko (13)
Johanna Konta (6) v Simona Halep (2)
Court 1
Garbine Muguruza (14) v
Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Spec%20sheet
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16 second leg
Paris Saint-Germain (1) v Borussia Dortmund (2)
Kick-off: Midnight, Thursday, March 12
Stadium: Parc des Princes
Live: On beIN Sports HD
Strait of Hormuz
Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.
The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.
Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
World Cup final
Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESteven%20Knight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EMark%20Ruffalo%2C%20Hugh%20Laurie%2C%20Aria%20Mia%20Loberti%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2F5%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
'The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting up a Generation for Failure'
Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, Penguin Randomhouse
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
THE%20STRANGERS'%20CASE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Brandt%20Andersen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOmar%20Sy%2C%20Jason%20Beghe%2C%20Angeliki%20Papoulia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2A)
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20turbocharged%204-cyl%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E300bhp%20(GT)%20330bhp%20(Modena)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E450Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh299%2C000%20(GT)%2C%20Dh369%2C000%20(Modena)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
If%20you%20go
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
