After the first Gulf War, Saddam Hussein began an aggressive drainage program which turned much of the Mesopotamian Marshlands - or the Garden of Eden - into desert, forcing 200,000 inhabitants to flee as refugees to Iran.

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The Mesopotamian Marshlands, in Southern Iraq at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, are thought by many to be the site of the Garden of Eden.

After the first Gulf War, Saddam Hussein began an aggressive drainage programme. It turned much of this abundant marshland into desert, and forced some 200,000 of its inhabitants to flee, many taking refuge in Iran.

Now, the water and its inhabitants are returning. But many things have changed forever.

Filmmaker Rashed Radwan went back in time, to witness a way of life that has remained unchanged for 5,000 years and the struggle of an old Sheikh against his own son, in an attempt to preserve their Garden of Eden.

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About Al Jazeera - Witness

Rageh Omaar presents Witness, a half-hour daily documentary series which features short, specially commissioned or acquired films gathered from independent filmmakers.
 
Each documentary reveals the unknown lives of ordinary people, following their lives, telling their stories and portraying the challenges that confront them. Our witnesses are people in a situation or those who have observed them first hand.
 
The films cover conflict, belief, the past and the future and as well as bringing new stories to light they showcase the talents of a new breed of multi-skilled, frontline journalist. In the studio, Rageh will further explore the issues raised in the films, with expert guests on the subject matter and the filmmakers themselves.