These photos are only like 3 years apart
i don't know why the government doesn't just plant trees in the dry patches, and just use urine or dead leaves as fertilizer? The trees will help build up moisture in the sky, and cause rain, because when they active during the day they transpire, and they make water from respiration. Over time the water will build back up.
Or they can just water the trees that are already there with a urine:water mixture, and get them to release moisture to the atmosphere.