内容摘要：, including at least three Rafale fighters. But Chauhan on Saturday dismissed it as “absolutely incorrect”, confirming his country had lost at least one aircraft.

, including at least three Rafale fighters. But Chauhan on Saturday dismissed it as “absolutely incorrect”, confirming his country had lost at least one aircraft.

Depopulation has only accelerated Oualata’s decline.“The houses became ruins because their owners left them,” explained Sidiya, who is a member of a national foundation dedicated to preserving the country’s ancient towns.

For generations, Oualata’s population has steadily dwindled as residents depart in search of work, leaving the historical buildings neglected. The traditional structures, coated in reddish mud-brick known as banco, were crafted to withstand the desert climate, but require maintenance after each rainy season.Much of the Old Town now stands abandoned, with only about one-third of its buildings inhabited.“Our biggest problem is desertification. Oualata is covered in sand everywhere,” Sidiya said.

According to Mauritania’s Ministry of Environment, approximately 80 percent of the country is affected by desertification – an advanced stage of land degradation caused by “climate change (and) inappropriate operating practices”.By the 1980s, even Oualata’s mosque was submerged in sand. “People were praying on top of the mosque” rather than inside, recalled Bechir Barick, a geography lecturer at Nouakchott University.

Despite the relentless sands and wind, Oualata still preserves relics from its days as a key stop on trans-Saharan caravan routes and a renowned centre of Islamic learning.

As the town’s imam, Mohamed Ben Baty descends from a distinguished line of Quranic scholars and is the custodian of nearly a millennium of scholarship. The family library he oversees houses 223 manuscripts, the oldest dating back to the 14th century.“The real cause of my everyday anxiety is people in military uniform on the streets of Moscow, the state of war with a neighbouring country, and oppressive laws that were implemented for the last two years that forbid me even to call it a war. So the reason brands left - that’s what bothers me, not the consequences,” Daria told Al Jazeera

For the manager of a large dairy company who spoke on condition of anonymity, business has continued largely unscathed.“Our production has only grown for the last two years. Of course, there are challenges. For instance, our company was an exclusive dealer of an American agriculture machinery brand, and since it announced the suspension of shipments, there is no legal way to buy their tractor[s] in Russia,” the manager, whose company has farms across Russia, told Al Jazeera.

“But the lifespan of a tractor is more than 10 years, so the effect would not be immediate. Yes, there are risks and we are taking steps to mitigate them”.As for ethical concerns, the manager said her conscience is undisturbed.