Isho and her children, who are experiencing displacement for the first time, are sitting outside their relatives’ house in an IDP camp in Baidoa. Addey Abdullahi Adan, a widow, and her nine children sought refuge in the Mog-iyo Arow camp in Baidoa after fleeing conflict in their drought-affected village in the Bay region. Unfortunately, the overcrowded camp has provided little protection and aid to Addey and her children. She spends hours on the streets begging for food from the residents of Baidoa, barely managing to scrape together a meal for her family. Addey expressed her frustrations over the lack of plastic sheeting, food, and water, stating that they have absolutely nothing. Their lives were disrupted when they had to abandon their farming lifestyle and escape the approaching conflict. Addey and her children embarked on a three-day journey to the IDP camp, facing transportation challenges. The family’s livestock had been depleted due to drought, and they hadn’t been able to plant anything on their farm for two years. Addey’s husband had passed away, leaving her as the sole provider for her children. The family had also suffered significant losses, including 200 goats, due to the prolonged drought. Addey couldn’t afford the school fees, forcing her to withdraw her children from education. When the conflict escalated, they had no choice but to flee. In the camp, their makeshift cardboard shelter is at risk of collapsing in the rain, and during the day, they seek shelter under trees. However, with the increasing number of people fleeing insecurity in the Bay region, the camps are overwhelmed, and the limited local support systems are unable to meet the needs of newcomers. Another displaced individual, Isho Adan Madkus, arrived in the camp from Daynuney with her family of 10 people. They rely on distant wells for water and spend a significant portion of their limited income on water. Isho works as a washerwoman, earning a small amount of money that barely covers one meal for her family. Her two children have fallen ill, and without money, she cannot seek treatment for them. Isho hopes to return to their three-hectare farm if the situation improves. The camp leader, Adan Aliyow Ibrahim, reported that 800 new families had joined the camp in August, overwhelming their capacity to provide basic necessities. Despite their efforts to borrow food from local businesses or seek assistance from city residents, their resources are stretched thin due to the growing number of arrivals.
