‘I can’t survive in a house’: Petra’s Bedouin resist moves to evict them from ancient cave homes

Plans to improve the world heritage site for tourists put its living culture at risk, say locals and campaigners

By noon, the sun is high over Petra, bleaching the coloured sandstone cliffs and temporarily emptying its celebrated ruins of tourists. Vines and a canopy keep the terrace of Mohammed Feras s cave home cool despite the searing summer heat rising from the rocky valley.

I have lived here all my life. I've never been anywhere else and I cannot imagine not living here. This area is part of who I am and I cannot leave it," the 44-year-old farmer and sometime tourist guide said.