PastPreserver

The Unforgiving Terrain and the Struggle for Survival Somalia, with a per capita income of only $600, is one of the poorest countries in the world. 90% of its population survives on just $2 a day. The majority of the land is desert and wasteland, making agriculture nearly impossible. The only viable means of livelihood is fishing. This struggle for survival was further exacerbated when the civil war broke out in 1991, plunging the country into a state of anarchy. The Exploitation of Somali Waters In the chaos that ensued, countries around the world, including ours, engaged in large-scale illegal fishing in Somali waters. The waters off Somalia, especially rich in tuna, were a lifeline for the Somali people who barely managed to feed themselves through coastal fishing. This exploitation turned their struggle for survival into a matter of life and death. The Sea of Death The situation took a turn for the worse when oil-producing countries from Europe and the Arab world began dumping indu...