Bintagoungou — "I have lived here [near Lake Faguibine, in northern Mali] for 56 years and seen how the prosperity of this region has gone from having plenty of fish, crops, land for everyone, to having next to nothing.

"Once upon a time we were the food basket of the whole of Mali, but since the droughts of 1973 and 1984 we have gradually been reduced to this - beggars.

"For women, the droughts forced us out of the house to find work, and we never went home again. We became equal with the heads of family, searching for work, looking for new ways to support our families. We did that to help our children.

"The consequences of the current situation are so clear: there are conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, between farmers and fishermen, even in families there are conflicts now. And there are weapons all around this lake area now.

"Today, our only hope is that Lake Faguibine will be brought back to its former level, so we can live our lives the way we want to: peacefully and quietly."

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]