Desert nomadism

Nomads in developing countries may be the least privileged as regards education, since they are isolated from educational facilities and may find it impossible to attend school regularly. Inaccessibility also works against them in health matters; and in the event of drought, the administration of food aid may be difficult. Inefficient use of limited resources and grazing of nomadic flocks, in particular goats, cause soil erosion and strain existing limited pasture, so that development of the area may be hampered. With desert irrigation and reclamation programmes, it is important for the authorities to control both the animal population and the high birth rate among nomads. The incentives given to make nomads comply with these policies imply their settling in one place and relinquishing nomadism.