Under the Sand documents the sand encroachment danger for villages in the south of Tunisia: Nowael, Ghidma, Sabria and Rjimm Mâatoug. In those villages, sand covers houses, roads and lands, which leads to serious damage to people’s homes and to agriculture — the only subsistence for the village's residents.
The development of the dehydrated zone of Tunisia's south has always been one of the government’s major concerns since the independence of the country. The Tunisian government offers land, housing and agricultural advantages to incite nomads to settle in this territory. However, despite the socio-economic efforts of local government to fight against this natural disaster, it is still difficult for people to live in the region.
New constructions a few hundred meters from the dunes in Sabria, Tunisia.
A house transformed by its inhabitant to a barn for the horse, after it was overtaken by the sand, Sabria, Tunisia.
The only part we can see from Abdelhafid’s house door from the outside, Nowael, Tunisia.
A knight rides his horse during local festival for Fantasia in Nowael, Tunisia.
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See more work by 2019 Joop Swart Masterclass participants here
