sea water

When Rahmani got to the beach, the muddy bag was emptied out in the sand and refilled with sea water.

He stands up most of the time because of the lack of space and sleeps in sea water mixed with fuel.

He says the sea water has caused almost his entire family to develop skin infections.

The cause of their disappearance appears to be a combination of deforestation by locals wanting coveted hard wood - and rising sea water as a result of climate change, which scientists feel is the major factor.

Mangrove forests are full of salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that prevent sea water from advancing into farmlands by stabilising soil that otherwise could be washed away.