Jeremy Skirrow, Dust and Despair: A Coastal Cry for Water in Rural Peru (DOCO 2025)

In rural Peru, around 40% of the population lacks reliable access to clean water. This scarcity is not only a daily hardship for communities like Huanchaco but also a defining feature of their surroundings, shaped by years of neglect and inadequate infrastructure. Dependent on expensive and unpredictable water truck deliveries, residents face an environment marked by visible signs of resource scarcity and systemic neglect. This photo series captures the landscapes and infrastructure of a region shaped by water shortages, environmental challenges, and the absence of sustainable development. Dust-covered streets, empty reservoirs, abandoned spaces, and litter-strewn highways all reflect a region grappling with the consequences of insufficient resources. These scenes expose the environmental toll of poor waste management, the economic stagnation affecting agriculture and tourism, and the broader inequalities between urban and rural areas. Despite Peru’s growing prominence on the global stage during events like the APEC 2024 summit, rural areas like Huanchaco remain overlooked. Investments often prioritise urban centers, leaving rural communities with unreliable water delivery systems and inadequate waste and sanitation infrastructure. These disparities deepen cycles of poverty and limit opportunities for economic growth, reinforcing a pattern of marginalisation. Through these images, the project seeks to highlight the lasting impacts of water scarcity and neglect, focusing on a region where systemic inequality deeply affects the lives of its residents. The landscapes and infrastructure bear visible marks of this neglect, but it is the people who endure the daily challenges of unreliable water access, poor sanitation, and limited economic opportunities. While progress has been slow, the need for investment in rural infrastructure and environmental reform remains as urgent as ever. Photographed September-October 2024 on Kodak Gold 200 and Fujifilm Fujicolor 200 35mm film.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.