Climate change in Tanzania: a search for water takes its toll

In recent years unpredictable rainfall has reduced the availability of fresh water for the people of Namakongoro village in Lindi, Tanzania, eastern Africa Photograph: Yusuf Badi/British Council

Traditionally, the women brought water from waterholes and ponds for drinking, cooking and washing, but recently these sources have been drying up during the long hot season Photograph: Yusuf Badi/British Council

Forced to find an alternative, the community decided to explore the underground cave network used by rebels during the 1905 Maji Maji war. Digging down through the sand and dry topsoil, they gained access to the caves where they found a meagre supply of brackish water Photograph: Yusuf Badi/British Council

The women walk to the caves each day to fetch water. Carrying buckets, they descend 30m on precarious homemade bamboo ladders Photograph: Yusuf Badi/British Council

The ladders need to be replaced every three months because they do not last long in the underground damp Photograph: Yusuf Badi/British Council

Filling the buckets is a long and arduous task Photograph: Yusuf Badi/British Council

This adaptation has helped the village survive the drought, but poses extreme danger and hardship for the women who are responsible for collecting the water Photograph: Yusuf Badi/British Council

Droughts and floods are the two major extreme climate events affecting Tanzania today. In recent years floods have left thousands homeless and destroyed crops. Droughts have also had a significant impact on lives of the poor and vulnerable in the east African nation Photograph: Yusuf Badi/British Counci

In six droughts from 1980-2008 more than 7.96 million people were affected, losing their livestock and crops and leaving them in fear of starvation. These people are the least responsible for global climate change, yet they are already among those most affected by it Photograph: Yusuf Badi/British Council