Ndiawzo,23, is as piroguiere. He transports people on Senegal River by his pirogue (canoe) between the banks of Saint-Louis island and the Langue de Barbarie.
Cheick Tourè school was hit by a major storm in March 2018.
The Langue de Barbarie, home of 80000 people, is the most densely populated area of the whole Africa. Once the construction works are completed, the houses located on the 20-meter-wide strip along the protective wall will be demolished. Around 100000 people are set to be relocated in Djougop, 10 kilometers inland.
Aftermath of a sea-storm that struck Saint-Louis in 2009. (Image courtesy of Centre de Recherches et de Documentation du Senegal, Saint-Louis)
Financed by the State of Senegal and the French Development Agency (AFD), once finished the dyke will run for 3,5 km alongside the protective wall built by settlers in 1927.
Moussa Ndiaye (46), elementary teacher at Cheick Tourè school
Astou Fall (73) was asleep when the first waves lapped at her door in March 2017. «We woke up with the feet on the water» she recalls. Her nephew Mohamad was just 1 month the night they fled their home to seek refuge in Khar Yalla, a displacement camp 8 km inland.
Sea-wall construction work was entrusted to the French company Eiffage. Bafall Seck (43), journeyman.
Seidna (11) on the roof of his seafront house in Guet Ndar
Cheick Tourè school
Bacare Niang (67) lives with his family within the 20-meter-wide band considered at very high-risk of flooding. ‘With the sea-wall we’ll be safe, we don’t want to leave,’ he says ‘we belong here and sea is our source of life. It provide us food and income’.
Djougop temporary camp
Michelle Guoye(left),50, member of the ‘Striken People Association of Khar Yalla’, with her friend Diame Seynabore Fall,39. Following a storm surge in August 2018, were moved to a school yard for two months, then in Khar Yalla. They have now been living in Djougop temporary camp for over two years.
Ameth Sene Diagne,59, Doune Baba Dieye village chef, in his new house in Dièle M’Bam
Doune Baba Dieye. A tree stands where once was the center of the village.
For some years Ameth has embarked on an ambitious reforestation plan. Since 2012 he has decided to plant casuarina and mangrove trees on semi-submerged land. He dreams of regaining land from the ocean and return to live in his village.
Saint-Louis cemetery
Sea wall building is due to finish by the end of this year, when the barrier will run 3.5 km along the coast
Next to Djougop temporary camp, 600 housing are planned to be built to accommodate displaced people living within the 20-meters-wide strip of the coast considered to be at high risk of flooding.
Mansou Wad (22), has moved with his family in Khar Yalla camp in 2017. He earn his living by fishing and now have to commute to the sea by taking a bus or an expensive taxi during off-hours.
‘Barça ou Barsakh’ (‘Barcelona or death’) is the way local people call the ‘Western Africa Route’, the Atlantic migratory route which is considered to be one of the deadliest to reach Europe.
