Somalia burns through its charcoal supply

Environmentalists warn that charcoal industry is causing disastrous strain on local acacia trees.

Somalia Qardho Puntland state.

A lack of rain in the Somali state of Puntland has put thousands of people at risk of starvation.

Environmentalists say the droughts are a result of deforestation and with no clear regulation, a lucrative charcoal industry is being allowed to cut down as many trees as it wants.

The lack of an affordable, alternative energy source, means most Somalis depend solely on charcoal, and environmentalists believe that the acacia trees so common in Somalia will soon be wiped out.

Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi reports from Qardho, in the Puntland state.

Source: Al Jazeera