Vanishing Glaciers, Vanishing Lives: The Tales of Samjung
Samjung, a village in Nepal's Upper Mustang, is among many high-altitude communities affected by climate change. As glaciers retreat and water sources dry, villagers like Kunga Gurung are forced to relocate. The village relocation reflects a growing trend of climate-induced migrations across the globe, reshaping lives and livelihoods.
The Himalayan village of Samjung did not vanish overnight. Located in a remote valley in Nepal's Upper Mustang, this Buddhist community lived traditionally by herding yaks and sheep and barley farming beneath ancient ochre cliffs. However, climate change has dramatically altered this way of life.
As the snow-capped mountains surrounding Samjung transformed into barren landscapes, the village's water sources dried up, prompting a mass exodus. The region's once-predictable snowfall patterns have become erratic, as climate change-induced warming has led to the retreat of glaciers and the depletion of water resources.
In a global trend reflecting the situation in Samjung, communities are being forced to relocate due to escalating extreme weather events. In response, villagers like Pemba and Toshi Gurung are building new lives in areas with reliable water access and economic opportunities, although it means leaving ancestral lands behind.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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