Basra Marshes : the Marsh Arabs live mainly in the southern parts of Iraq. Their numbers dwindled from roughly 400'000 in 1950 to 250'000 in 1991. Their environment and lifestyle was decimated by the policies of Saddam Hussein who succeeded to flush out 90% of up to 20'000 square kilometers of marsh land.
Basra Marshes : as few as 20'000 Marsh Arabs continue to make their livelihoods from fishing, growing rice and dates and raising water buffalos.
Basra Marshes : the sparse areas of marshes that remain are an ecologically rich and diverse region.
Basra Marshes : Saddam persecuted the Marsh Arabs because he considered the region to be a dangerous backwater for Shia rebels, deserters and smugglers that he felt he had to bring under his control. The UN estimates that up to 60'000 Marsh Arabs were killed after the uprising in 1991 and 40'000 escaped to Iran.
Basra: interview with Sebih Majeed Ateeh, who was personally involved in the 1991 uprising against Saddam Hussein. His account of the 1991 uprising provides an insight into why Saddam drained the marshes to flush out Shia rebels. Ateeh has just returned to Iraq after years in exile. He offers his views about the Americans and his vision about the future.
Dry and Deserted: a member of the Karamshi tribe explains how Saddam cut the water supply of their marsh land between 1993 and 1994. Most of the 7,000 Karamshi tribes people were forced to settle in nearby urban areas.
Land of the Karamshi tribe: the Coalition Provisional Government started to re-flood some of the deserted marsh land and the Karamshi tribes people are hoping to return to their revitalised marshes within a year or two.
Karamshi tribe: seated amid his tribes-people, the chief of the Karamshi tribe, discusses the current state of Iraq. The Karamshi have a notorious reputation among the people of Basra for being responsible for the looting and criminality in the city.
Karamshi tribe: interview with Sheikh Ahmed Twaiyyeh Karamshi, chief of the tribe. He denies the allegations that the Karamshi are looters. He says he is ready to kill any of his tribesmen caught stealing.
Karamshi tribe: Sheikh Ahmed envisages a new-found democracy for Iraq, based on Islam.
Karamshi village: some members of the tribe live in makeshift houses in the deserted marshes north of Basra.
Karamshi village: poverty
Karamshi village: tribesmen discuss politics after lunch, watched by younger members of the tribe.
Karamshi village: some men have up to 4 wives and families can number more than 10 children. The tribesmen complain that there is no school nearby. Virtually all the tribe are illiterate.
Karamshi village: They may be illiterate, but they are a proud and hospitable people with a strong survival instinct.