China

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Xiu was 11 years old when this photo was taken, at which point his parents had already imposed him with the burden of carrying water. The heavy chore costs Xiu five hours a day but only meet the basic needs for drink and cooking. Life at the edge of the desertification area is harsh. In many of the settlements, the wells have completely dried up.

In 1998, photographer Lu photographed a then eight year-old boy. When Lu met the child again three years later, he was astonished to find the boy still wearing the same outfit he has worn when Lu first met him. Not only are Xiu’s parents too poor to buy new clothes, but Xiu doesn't need any, since he hasn't grown a single centimeter in the past three years, a vital period for childhood growth. The food situation in this region of Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region in northern China, only allows for two meals per day, far from enough both in quantity and quality.

In Xiu’s village, people's teeth are stained yellow from the water that contains a high percentage of fluorine; Lu also suspects the lack of quality in drinking water to be one of the main reasons for the many mentally as well as physically ill people in these places. “No water, no food…say nothing of going to school.” said one helpless father. Most of the children in their village lack the opportunity to learn to read and write, but at an early age, everyone must learn how to steer a donkey-pulled cart to get water. Children grow up through the endless come-and-go on a long road to water in the immense desert.

The Inner Mongolia region has an annual precipitation of 100-500 mm. The Greater Hinggan Mountains and the Yinshan Mountains divide the regions into areas with different climate. The area east of the Greater Hinggan Mountains and north of the Yinshan Mountains has lower temperature and less precipitation than the opposite area. Desertification in Inner Mongolia seriously deteriorates the water supply. It is estimated that the desert region is increasing at a rate of 2460 km2/year. Reports note that this area is the main source of frequent sand storms. In these areas, the task of fetching water often falls to women and children. They must walk miles each day to get water as their family task, which keep most children out of school. Inaccessible water causes failures in economic development and aggravates poverty, resulting in severe malnutrition of local children.