Samir Abdullah poses with his family. All photos: Ishtar Obaid
Samir Abdullah poses with his family. All photos: Ishtar Obaid
They are from Iraq's Al Bahar tribe
They are from Iraq's Al Bahar tribe
Their home is in Chebayish Al Ahwar, Al Nasriyah
Their home is in Chebayish Al Ahwar, Al Nasriyah
Many other families have been forced out of the marshes
Many other families have been forced out of the marshes
The cause has been a drought that has affected the area over the past few years
The cause has been a drought that has affected the area over the past few years
The drought has made it hard for livestock, which the families rely on for milk, to survive
The drought has made it hard for livestock, which the families rely on for milk, to survive
It has also affected the number of fish in the marshes
It has also affected the number of fish in the marshes
Al Ebaa Abed makes bread for her family
Al Ebaa Abed makes bread for her family
Fuel for the oven is gathered from the surrounding countryside
Fuel for the oven is gathered from the surrounding countryside
With her son, Kasim Mohammed, looking on, she creates clay 'hot plates' that are heated for the bread to be made on
With her son, Kasim Mohammed, looking on, she creates clay 'hot plates' that are heated for the bread to be made on
The 'tanoor bread' is then laid out to cool
The 'tanoor bread' is then laid out to cool
The family are one of the few remaining to exist in the marshlands
The family are one of the few remaining to exist in the marshlands

MENA

A vanishing way of life on Iraq's marshlands - in pictures

Photographer Ishtar Obaid takes a closer look at a family's day in southern Iraq

The National

January 19, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic
Updated: January 19, 2023, 10:38 AM
Iraq