The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in the Omo River of Ethiopia is becoming a cause for conflict for both the people of the lower Omo and Lake Turkana. The damages so far have mainly been human; lives have been lost in fights for the remaining resources, be they grazing lands or fishing waters.
However, there are also clear signs of environmental damage appearing: water levels have been decreasing and salination increments increasing, making the water completely inept for human consumption. The decrease in water levels are in turn affecting breeding grounds, and subsequently killing the livelihoods of many who depend on these waters.
Land clearing and grabbing due to the new dam's construction has led to a severe lack of resources in the lower Omo region. This means that the Ethiopian MerileĀ“s are having to cross the Kenyan border in order to maintain their livelihoods, leading to conflicts on Kenyan soil.
This is a working project that I hope to follow up throughout the construction of the dam, to be able to witness the escalating environmental, social and political consequences it will bring upon the regions and their people.
Part 1 consists of a close-up of daily life on the Kenyan border, highlighting the essential security measures the Turkana fishermen and pastoralists have had to adopt in order to defend themselves from recurring attacks. It also captures the newly-deployed security enforcement the Kenyan government has put in place to try and control the disputes.
