Years of war and drought have increasingly forced Afghanistan's Kuchis, a nomadic tribal group, to abandon their traditional lifestyle and relocate to settled areas.
Afghanistan's Kuchi Nomads Forced To Settle
1
Human rights organizations say Kuchis are the poorest and most marginalized group in Afghanistan.
2
Over the centuries the Kuchi nomads, whose numbers are estimated from 300,000 to 3 million, have pursued a migratory life, herding caravans of sheep, goats, and camels around the country.
3
The Kuchis migrated from warmer lowlands in winter to mountain pastures in summer. They played an important part in the economy by producing meat and fabrics used for making carpets.
4
But many Kuchis have relocated to settled areas because of war, drought, and dwindling access to land. Only around one-third still lead nomadic lives.