Why it matters

The Sinai Desert is a special place

In nomadic regions of the world there is a powerful relationship between the environment and the human spirit. The Sinai Desert is one of those places. Anyone who walks or runs in its clean, open sands and mountains and meets the Bedouin who live there will experience a special sense of space and freedom.

Recognising the value therein, the Makhad Trust works to sustain the environment and the natural heritage of the people who live in the Sinai and, while doing so, to appreciate and to learn from their traditional wisdom.

But shortage of water threatens the Bedouin people

For centuries the Bedouin tribes of the Sinai have lived from fruit grown in desert and mountain oasis gardens. The gardens provide food, income and the basis of a traditional nomadic way of life.

Each garden has a well, which is the source of essential water for trees and people. But changing climate and growing consumption of water elsewhere in the region mean that the water table has dropped and many wells are running dry. Gardens are dying, and many Bedouin families, often with no other resources to draw on, face hardship and the demise of their nomadic way of life.

In response, Makhad helps the Bedouin in two practical ways

First, by funding work by the Bedouin themselves to improve and deepen wells.

And second, by working with the Bedouin and with volunteers from other countries to build small dams that will hold up precious rainwater long enough for it to penetrate to the water table and fill up the wells.

There are many desert oases at risk and not yet enough money available to save them. So any financial support or donation is welcome, and will be put to good use helping Bedouin families and in so doing preserving environment, knowledge and culture that we can ill afford to lose. You will find the Makhad Trust page on Just Giving at http://www.justgiving.com/makhad.