Syrian Bedouin communities, known for their nomadic lifestyle and animal herding, are facing unprecedented challenges to their traditional way of life.

Damascus

Bedouin communities north of Aleppo are facing significant challenges due to economic hardship and environmental pressures. The cost of food and fodder has become nearly unaffordable, forcing many families to consider moving from the desert to nearby villages, despite limited access to basic services and the destruction of homes during years of civil conflict.

Once numbering in the millions, most Syrian Bedouins have now moved into cities, and their traditional way of life is at risk of disappearing. Bedouins continue to play a vital role in agriculture, security, and politics, but they are now navigating the complex balance between tribal solidarity and integration into the broader Syrian state.

Syria's Bedouin communities amid challenges

Just north of Aleppo, Bedouin clans graze their sheep in the fields after the harvest. They have to pay for access to such rare pastures in the peak of summer. The owner of the herd, Abu Muhammad, from the Mawali clan, has set up camp nearby. Summer is the worst time of year for Bedouins. There hasn't been much rain, and the flimsy structures they live in offer little protection from the sun. He says the cost of food for his children and fodder for his sheep is nearly impossible to afford. We will have to move into villages due to the difficulties we are facing. Those who can afford to rent a house will do it, and those who can't will set up a camp next to a village. We can't stay in the desert in these harsh circumstances. But moving to villages isn't the solution either, according to Abu Muhammad. Nearly 14 years of civil war destroyed thousands of Bedouin homes. And basic services remain a distant dream in many of the areas into which they moved. Several decades back, Syrian Bedouins used to be numbered in millions. But with the tremendous challenges facing them, the majority have moved into cities. Abu Muhammad believes that the Bedouin way of life as he knew it will soon become a thing of the past. Bedouins play an important role in the Syrian economy. Agriculture, including the country's estimated 18 million sheep, is a significant export. They also play a role in security and politics. In July, Bedouins marched on the southern city of Suwayda to fight against the Druze, whom they accused of killing their cousins. We are all one. Whenever any of us are in trouble, all the tribes are mobilized. This has been the case since the time of our ancestors. The Bedouins believe their survival depends on tribal solidarity. But with the current challenge of nation building, they are having to balance loyalty to the tribe with loyalty to the state. Mohamed Val, Al Jazeera, Aleppo, Syria.

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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Anchorage

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Breakdown