Pastoralists in Ethiopia's drought-affected eastern desert region are turning towards traditional water harvesting techniques in an attempt to deal with the increasingly erratic weather patterns.

Sub-surface dams which trap water in sand following flash floods can provide up to four months of clean water. People in the area explain how the trapped water helps them and their animals survive through the dry seasons.

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Photographed and recorded by Daniel Dickinson of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department.
Produced by Paul Kerley and Lucy Fleming. Publication date 28 October 2009.

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Audio slideshow: Ethiopia's water traps