groundwater crisis (ongoing): lake chad basin: chad: JHahn_LakeChadBasin_42

Mohammed Mboudou, digs for natron in Mayala, Chad February 2017. Mboudou has been mining for natron, a sodium based mineral found in pockets of areas around the basin, since he was 20 years old. As the water levels of the lake decrease, fields of natron are uncovered overtime. They are mined and sold to markets around the basin with Nigeria being the largest market.  

Since late 2014, the route to Nigeria has been cut off due to insecurity severely affecting the local market and incomes of the fishermen, farmers and miners and their ability to provide for their families.