ETHIOPIA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION-DEMBEL

A general view of Lake Dembel, one of the lakes in Ethiopia's Central Rift Valley long affected by overuse and pollution, in Batu on May 22, 2025. There is a constant hum around Ethiopia's enormous Lake Dembel, it is the sound of its water steadily being sucked out by pumps. The lake's depth has halved since 1990 from four metres to two, according to Wetlands International, an NGO. Heavy pesticide use in farms surrounding Lake Dembel is poisoning the water that remains while the lake's many fishermen are also affected. (Photo by Marco Simoncelli / AFP) (Photo by MARCO SIMONCELLI/AFP via Getty Images)